India’s answer to Tibet rail: PMO clears plan for train to Leh via Rohtang

Simultaneously, the PMO has already instructed the Railway Ministry to carry out a proper feasibility survey of the Bilaspur-Leh route and submit its report latest by November. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sources said, is keen that there should be no delay in taking the proposal forward.

The CSG that comprises the Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary, Home Secretary besides heads of the Intelligence Bureau and RAW will now look into the project from a strategic perspective and give its comments by August-end. A favourable opinion from the CSG will elevate the strategic significance of the project and remove several funding barriers.

The plan on paper is to build a railway line from Bilaspur to Leh covering approximately 400 km which, by a broad estimate, could end up costing around Rs 5,000 crore. Already, the Centre has agreed to provide Rs 1,000 crore for building the railway line from Bhanupalli to Bilaspur which can be then extended further.

In all, the Centre is backing the Himachal Government to build about 650 km of railway lines in the state which will have major strategic and economic significance. Currently, the broad estimate is that about Rs 8,000-10,000 crore will have to budgeted for this purpose.

Now that the PMO has given its nod, sources said, the various proposals would move faster with considerable pressure being brought on the Railways to carry out the requisite technical work.

China began its work on the Qinghai-Tibet railway more than two decades ago. Unlike this case, the Chinese had to build 1,956 km and the first stretch rom Qinghai to Golmund was built by 1984 while the all-important and challenging 1,142 km Golmund-Lhasa line was inaugurated only two years ago.

India is already working on an ambitious railway line into the Kashmir Valley. Top officials say the projects in Himachal Pradesh must also be taken up without delay so that connectivity can be provided to the...