Himachal : 120 किलोमीटर लंबी कांगड़ा घाटी रेल लाइन के विस्तार में कोई प्रगति नहींThe 120-kilometer-long Kangra Valley Railway line, one of India's oldest narrow-gauge tracks, has been neglected for years. Despite numerous promises, the Ministry of Railways has shown no interest in expanding the line or connecting it to the proposed Bilaspur-Leh rail track via Jogindernagar. Built by the British in 1932 to...
more... connect important cities and religious sites in Kangra and parts of Mandi, the line has seen no improvements from the Indian Railways in 80 years. Multiple plans to convert it to broad gauge have stalled. Over the past decade, the track condition between Pathankot and Jogindernagar has worsened. The line is a lifeline for the 4 million residents in the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh. The original plan was to connect Leh to Pathankot via the Kangra Valley, but the then NDA government changed the alignment and a new DPR was prepared for connecting Leh to Bhaunapuli Bilaspur. Earlier, seven trains ran daily, covering 33 stations, including important towns like Nurpur, Jawali, Jwalamukhi Road, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Chamunda, Palampur, Baijnath, and Jogindernagar. However, train services have been suspended since a bridge over the Chakki River near Pathankot collapsed 18 months ago. During the 2017 and 2019 elections, local MP Krishan Kapoor and other central leaders made promises to upgrade the Kangra Valley line to broad gauge and connect it to Leh via Manali. However, no progress has been made in the past five years, and no attempts have been made for land acquisition or DPR preparation. In 2003, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during the NDA's time in power, planned to connect Leh to Pathankot via Manali, considering the strategic importance for defense. The decision to develop an alternative route via Kangra came after the 1999 Kargil war, as this route was considered the safest and beyond Pakistan's firing range. The Kangra Valley line is currently dilapidated, with most of the infrastructure nearing the end of its life. Poor maintenance and lack of funds have hindered repairs and replacements of bridges and retaining walls, further deteriorating the track's condition.
120 kilometer lambi Kangra Valley Railway line, jo India ki sabse purani narrow-gauge track mein se ek hai, bahut samay se latka hua hai. Bahut saare waadon ke bawajood, Rail Mantralay ne line ko expand karne ya Jogindernagar ke raaste proposed Bilaspur-Leh rail track se connect karne mein koi interest...
more... nahi dikhaaya hai. 1932 mein British ne Kangra ke sabhi important aur dharmik cities aur Mandi district ke kuchh hisson ko jodne ke liye yeh rail track banaya tha. Pichhle 80 saalon mein Indian Railways ne is track par ek eent bhi nahi jodi hai. Is narrow-gauge line ko broad-gauge line mein badalne ke liye bahut si yojnaayein banayi gayi, lekin sabhi files tak hi simit rahi. Pichhle 10 saalon mein Pathankot aur Jogindernagar ke beech rail track ki haalat bad se badtar ho gayi hai. Yeh line Himachal Pradesh ki nichi pahadiyon ke 40 lakh nivaasiyon ki lifeline mani jati hai. Aasli plan yeh tha ki Leh ko Pathankot se Kangra Valley ke raaste jodenge, lekin tab ki NDA government ne alignment badal diya aur Leh ko Bhaunapuli Bilaspur rail line marg se jodne ke liye ek naya DPR taiyar kiya gaya. Pehle, is marg par rozana saat train chalta tha, jisme 33 stations cover hote the, jisme Nurpur, Jawali, Jwalamukhi Road, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Chamunda, Palampur, Baijnath, aur Jogindernagar jaise important jagah se hoke guzarta tha, jo pramukh paryatak kendra bhi hain. Lekin, pichhle डेढ़ saal se Pathankot ke paas Chakki River par bane bridge ke girne ke baad train services band hain. 2017 aur 2019 mein Vidhan Sabha aur Sansadiy chunav ke dauraan, local MP Krishan Kapoor aur other central leaders ne Kangra Valley ki narrow-gauge rail line ko broad-gauge mein badalne aur use Manali ke raaste Leh se jodne ke liye Kangra ke nivaasiyon se bade waade kiye. Lekin, pichhle paanch saalon mein koi progress nahi hui aur na hi bhoomi adhigrahan ya DPR taiyar karne ka koi prayas kiya gaya. 2003 mein, jab kendra mein NDA satta mein thi, tab tab ki Pradhan Mantri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ne desh ki raksha avashyaktaon ko dhyan mein rakhte hue Pathankot ko Manali ke raaste Leh se jodne ki yojana banayi thi. Darasal 1999 ke Kargil war ke baad kendra ko is route ki ahamiyat ka ehsaas hua tha. Kendra Sarkar ne Kangra ke madhyam se Leh ke liye ek vaikalpik marg vikasit karne ka nirnay liya kyonki yeh marg sabse surakshit aur Pakistan ki firing range se pare mana jata hai. Abhi tak Kangra Valley rail line khatrahal hai. Iska adhikansh bunyadhi dhancha apna samay pura kar chuka hai aur dhyan dene ki maang kar raha hai. Samay ke saath track ki haalat bad se badtar ho gayi hai. Khrab rakhrakhaw aur dhan ki kami ke karan, purane puloon aur retaining walls ki marammat aur pratisthapan ka kaam badhit ho gaya hai.
