BJP's claim Himachal govt not cooperating with Centre on railway projects baseless: Agnihotri
He said: 'The state government's viewpoint is clear. We are rising above political differences and working with the central government for the development of the state. The railway projects are extremely important for the economic, social and tourism development of Himachal. These will not only help in connecting the remote areas of the state with other parts of the country but are also important from the national security and strategic point of view.'
Agnihotri stated that for a hilly and special category state like Himachal, rail connectivity is as important as road and air connectivity. He said: 'It is the priority of the state government that the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line, Chandigarh-Baddi rail line and Nangal-Talwara rail line projects are completed on time.'
In these projects, the state government has not only made financial contribution but has also played an active role in land acquisition, administrative approvals and completing other necessary formalities, he said adding that the state government has so far contributed ₹847 crore as the state share for the construction of Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line. He further stated that the work on this railway line is in progress and this work is expected to be completed by December 31, 2027.
He said that there was a delay in the implementation of this project, so the project cost reported by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has increased by 6.45 times to ₹6,753.42 crore. Now the state's share has increased to ₹2,583.01 crore, which includes land acquisition cost of ₹1,210.42 crore. Thus, the state government has to spend 38.84% of the total project cost.
The deputy CM said that the work of Chandigarh-Baddi Rail Line Project is in progress. This project has been declared as a special railway project by the Government of India. The target has been set to complete the work of this railway line by April 30, 2026.
He added that most of the Nangal-Talwara railway line has been completed and it has been opened for traffic from Nangal to Daulatpur Chowk. The entire cost of this project is being borne by the Centre, in which the state government has also played a supporting role.
He urged the opposition to refrain from making statements without confirming the facts and work together in the interest of the state.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
18 minutes ago
- Hans India
Ensure welfare schemes will reach all, CS to officials
Vijayawada: Chief secretary K Vijayanand on Friday said that the state government had set a target to make the state free from single-use plastic by World Environment Day, June 5, 2026. As a first step, the ban has been enforced in the state Secretariat from Friday, and the initiative will be extended in phases to all municipal corporations, towns, and villages. Speaking as the chief guest at the 79th Independence Day celebrations held at the Secretariat, Vijayanand said plastic pollution is a grave threat to the environment and human survival. He stressed the need for collective responsibility to protect natural resources for future generations. Paying tributes to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, the architect of the Constitution Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the designer of the national flag Pingali Venkaiah, revolutionary leader Alluri Sitarama Raju, and all other freedom fighters, the Chief Secretary said Independence Day is an occasion to recall the sacrifices of great leaders who fought for the country's freedom. Highlighting the government's welfare agenda, he said both the Centre and the state are implementing several development and social security schemes aimed at uplifting the poor. He urged officials and employees to work with dedication to ensure that every eligible beneficiary, even in the remotest village, receives the benefits. Vijayanand also spoke about the Swarna Andhra P-4 Foundation launched to eradicate poverty and reduce economic inequalities, and called for committed efforts to make the programme a success. Principal secretary (GAD) Mukesh Kumar Meena, CSO Mallikarjuna, senior police officers, staff, and Secretariat employees attended the programme. As part of the celebrations, Vijayanand paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, unfurled the national flag, and later distributed sweets to children.
Hans India
18 minutes ago
- Hans India
Kasturba Gandhi Kendra Trust distributes clothes to women
Tirupati: KasturbaGandhi Kendra Trust (R) celebrated 79th Independence Day with grandeur at Gandhi Road, Tirupati on Friday, under the chairmanship of Dr PC Rayulu. The event began with garlanding Mahatma Gandhi's portrait and unfurling the national flag. Dr Rayulu highlighted India's progress since independence and reiterated the Trust's commitment to serving poor, recalling its extensive relief work during Covid pandemic. BJP Tirupati district president Samanchi Srinivasulu lauded India's growth as the world's third-largest economy and praised the Trust's service activities. Deputy Mayor RC Munikrishna and other dignitaries commended the Trust's efforts. Later, food, clothes, and umbrellas were distributed to underprivileged women.
Indian Express
18 minutes ago
- Indian Express
La Ganesan, who grew up with RSS, helped shape Tamil Nadu's political landscape, and was Governor in 3 states, no more
La Ganesan, a veteran organiser for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and one of BJP's longest-serving leaders in Tamil Nadu, who went on to serve as Governor in three states, died on Friday in Chennai. He was 80. The Governor of Nagaland since February 2023, Ganesan was admitted to Apollo Hospitals on August 8 after a brief illness. His condition worsened over the following week, hospital officials said. Born on February 16, 1945, in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, into a Brahmin family, Ila Ganesan — as he was known to colleagues — was drawn to the RSS as a boy, becoming a full-time pracharak in his youth. His early decades in the organisation were largely outside the public spotlight. That changed in the early 1990s, when the RSS deputed him to the BJP as general secretary in charge of the party's organisation in Tamil Nadu, a post he held until 2003. His tenure spanned a period of tumult and unlikely alliances for the BJP in the state. Alongside the political commentator Cho Ramaswamy, Ganesan was credited with engineering the BJP's tie-up with the DMK in the late 1990s, after the AIADMK, led by J Jayalalithaa, pulled out of the NDA government. Ganesan's political style stood apart from the newer generation of BJP leaders. He cultivated cordial relationships across the political spectrum — with DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa, and even Communist leaders — and avoided the strident personal attacks that often colour Tamil Nadu's political discourse. Never known to flaunt his caste identity, he instead built a reputation as a soft-spoken organiser and skilled orator who could address audiences in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. Party colleagues recall him as a 'simple man' who often travelled with only a small bag, and as one of the few BJP leaders to work consistently to connect with the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka, Europe, and across Asia. Beyond politics, Ganesan was steeped in literature and music. He wrote columns for mainstream publications, edited Ore Naadu (One Nation), the Tamil Nadu BJP's mouthpiece, and founded Pottramarai (Golden Lotus), a collective of Tamil scholars from around the world. Among RSS colleagues, he was known as a singer and composer, having written and set to music several songs on patriotism and national integration. He rose through the BJP's ranks to become state president of the Tamil Nadu unit, national secretary, and vice-president. In the Rajya Sabha, he represented Madhya Pradesh. In August 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed him governor of Manipur; he later held additional charge as governor of West Bengal before moving to Nagaland in 2023. A lifelong bachelor, Ganesan remained active in public life until his final weeks.
