Himachal Pradesh pays ₹600 crore for railway land acquisition

The Himachal Pradesh government announced it has paid ₹600.46 crore for land needed to build the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line. This railway project, covering 63.5 kilometers, has faced delays for over 20 years. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri shared this information in response to questions from BJP MLA Trilok Jamwal. Agnihotri noted that ₹112.24 crore is still due for land acquisition. He also mentioned that the state has not received any money from the central government for this purpose. The deputy chief minister emphasized the need for the central government to manage land acquisition for railway projects in Himachal. Since 2010, the state has received ₹979.79 crore from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, which has grown to ₹1,052.70 crore with interest. Agnihotri stated the government aims to finish the railway line to Bilaspur by the end of 2027. The BJP has criticized the Congress government for the delays in this project. The Himachal Pradesh government wants the railway line to be classified as a strategic defence project, as it plans to extend the line to Leh, highlighting its importance for national security.