More than a year after the foundation stone for the much-ambitious Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail project in Uttarakhand was laid, the railways are yet to start its geological survey amid reports that investigations may continue for another two-three years.
“We are at present carrying out alignment works and the geological survey will begin only after March this year”, say a top railway officials.
The 125-km project is considered to be strategically important owing to Uttarakhand’s vast border with China which is augmenting its rail infrastructure in a big way.
“We are in the process of hiring agencies for carrying out geo-technical and other related geological surveys for the project,” the official said. The investigation of the project are likely to be completed in two-three years time, as the Garhwal hils are highly fragile, the official added.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi during her election rally in Uttarakhand last year had made a commitment to realise the longstanding dream of the Garhwal region for an early completion of the rail project, the foundation stone for which was on November 9, 2011.
The project which is expected to be completed in five-10 years time period would finally connect the backward Garhwal region with the rest of the country through a rail link which would shorten the arduous eight hour-road journey between the holy city of Rishikesh and Karanprayag to just four hours.
