₹1.31 Lakh Crore Bilaspur–Manali–Leh Strategic Rail Line & ₹6,753 Cr Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri Line Get Major Push; Himachal Rail Budget Jumps 25 Times

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Rajya Sabha today that the Government has fast-tracked two game-changing railway projects in Himachal Pradesh while the state’s annual rail budget has skyrocketed from an average ₹108 crore (2009–14) to a massive ₹2,716 crore in 2025–26 – an increase of more than 25 times.

World’s Highest & Toughest Railway: Bilaspur–Manali–Leh Line

The 489-km Bilaspur–Manali–Leh strategic railway, identified as a top-priority defence project by the Ministry of Defence, will become the highest rail network on earth, touching 5,400 metres near Tanglang La.

• Total length: 489 km
• Tunnels: 270 km (55% of the route)
• Estimated cost: ₹1.31 lakh crore
• Final Location Survey & Detailed Project Report completed

This all-weather line will give the Indian Army direct, year-round rail access to Ladakh and the China border, ending dependence on the snow-blocked Manali–Leh highway.

₹6,753 Crore Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri New Line Sanctioned

The 63-km Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri broad-gauge line, a vital feeder to the Leh project, has been fully sanctioned on a 75:25 cost-sharing basis (Centre 75%, Himachal 25%).

• Total sanctioned cost: ₹6,753 crore (including ₹1,617 crore land cost)
• Expenditure so far: ₹5,252 crore
• Himachal’s committed share: ₹2,711 crore | Deposited so far: only ₹847 crore (₹1,863 crore pending)
• Land required: 124 hectares | Provided: only 82 hectares (remaining land beyond Bilaspur to Beri still pending)

Minister Vaishnaw urged the Himachal Pradesh government to immediately clear pending land and ₹1,863 crore dues, warning that delays in state commitments are seriously hampering progress.

Himachal’s Rail Connectivity Revolution

• Nangal Dam–Daulatpur Chowk (60 km) section already commissioned
• Work in full swing on Daulatpur Chowk–Talwara and Chandigarh–Baddi (₹1,540 crore) new lines
• DPR ready for Baddi–Ghanauli (25 km) new line

These projects will connect industrial hubs like Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, boost tourism in Una, Kangra and Bilaspur, and provide the crucial “first-mile” link for the Leh strategic corridor.

Strategic & Economic Significance

Once completed, the combined network will:

• Create an alternative, all-weather defence supply route to Ladakh
• Slash freight costs for apples, cement and pharmaceuticals from Himachal
• Open Leh and Spiti to high-volume tourism via direct trains from Delhi-Chandigarh
• Generate lakhs of jobs during the 12–15-year construction period

The Minister emphasised that while the Centre is fully committed and has multiplied funding 25-fold, timely land acquisition, forest clearances and financial contributions from the state government remain critical for meeting deadlines.

With the Bilaspur–Manali–Leh line poised to become an engineering wonder greater than the Qinghai–Tibet railway and the Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri line acting as its lifeline, Himachal Pradesh is set to get the most ambitious rail transformation in its history – provided the state government matches the Centre’s pace.