Avinash Azad
JAMMU, Feb 24: Huge variations in estimated cost of Rajouri-Poonch railway link project has come to fore, as according to assessment of Union Railway Ministry the estimated cost of project is Rs. 13612 Crores, but reply of State Government in Legislative Council has pegged the estimated cost Rs. 7227.85 Crores.
In reply to calling attention notice tabled by MLC Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, the Minister Incharge Planning informed the upper house that the estimated cost of Jammu and Poonch via Akhnoor and Rajouri, railway link is Rs. 7227.85 Crores. Though the survey of Railway line is the prerogative of Union Railway Ministry but the reply given by Minister Incharge Planning today created confusion among members, who claimed that according to Railway authorities estimated cost of project was Rs. 13612 Crores, which is double to figure shown by Minister for Planning in Upper House.
Minister for Planning, in reply to calling attention notice of MLC, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, informed the house that Rs 7227.85 would be spent for said project but on January 31, 2014 the Indian Railways had assessed Rs 13612.81 Crore for said rail link.
"As per the available information a preliminary engineering cum traffic survey for Jammu to Rajouri-Poonch railway line has been carried out by the Northern Railway Construction Organization (NRCO) and report submitted to the Railway Board, Ministry of Railway in September 2008", the reply reads, adding that subsequently to the commissioning of Qazigund-Baramulla Railway Link, the State Government had requested the Government to extend rail connectivity from Baramulla to Kupwara.
Reply further read, "Accordingly, the NRCO has carried out a preliminary engineering cum traffic survey for the new line from Baramulla to Kupwara and submitted the report in October, 2010 to the Railway Board, Ministry of Railway."
"Updating of survey report for new line between Jammu and Poonch via Akhnoor and Rajouri with section length 234.12 Kms at Rs 7227.85 cr an estimated cost", the planning department informs, adding that for survey report of new BG line from Baramulla to Kupwara with section length 38.80 kms would likely complete in Rs 640.57 cr as estimated cost.
These projects have not been sanctioned as yet by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. "The railway lines from Jammu to Rajouri-Poonch and from Baramulla to Kupwara are very essential from strategic and economic points of view. The State Government shall take up the matter at the appropriate forum for early start of the project", State Govt admitted. |
