Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday ordered that escape tunnels being built alongside tunnels in the proposed rail projects should be developed as parallel roads.
He also asked officials to come up with a future-use plan for the escape tunnels under the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line project. He further said that work should be done to study the feasibility of extending the rail line from Karnaprayag to Bageshwar.
These instructions were given by Chief Minister Dhami during a review meeting on ongoing and proposed rail projects at the Secretariat.
He also directed officials to speed up work on the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line project. He stated that different alternative routes under the project should also be examined. He further asked them to explore options to connect the Almora and Someshwar regions so that more areas and people can benefit.
Dhami said the Centre should be requested to declare the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line project a national project so that its construction can be completed faster. He asked officials to prepare an integrated plan for the proposed railway stations under the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag project. This would help develop local markets around the stations. He also said special arrangements should be made at all under-construction stations for self-help groups and for selling the state’s local products.
He further directed that people living near the proposed railway stations should be encouraged, from now on, to take up self-employment. Awareness should also be created about homestays and other public welfare schemes.
He said a detailed roadmap should be prepared to develop villages, towns, religious sites, and other tourist destinations located near the under-construction railway stations. He also stressed proper redevelopment of areas around the stations so that the expected rise in tourist movement after the rail projects are completed can be handled smoothly.
During the meeting, it was noted that 72.5 per cent of the work on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line project has been completed, while 95.30 per cent of the tunnel construction work is done. Under this project, 28 tunnels are being built, including 16 main tunnels and 12 escape tunnels.
Several railway stations are also being developed under various themes. Shivpuri station is based on Neelkanth Mahadev, Byasi on Maharishi Ved Vyas, Devprayag on Samudra Manthan, Jenasu on Uttarakhand culture, Maletha on Veer Madho Singh Bhandari, Srinagar on Maa Rajrajeshwari Devi, Dhari Devi on Maa Dhari Devi, Tilni on Kedarnath, Gholtir on Panch Mahadev, Gauchar on Bal Govind Krishna, and Karnaprayag on Badrinath Temple and Radha-Krishna themes.
About the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line project, it was noted that the Railways have suggested three survey options. Work is also underway to explore other alternative routes and plans to connect the Almora and Someshwar regions with this rail route.
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