Sukhu government is unable to provide land and money, central development schemes are being disrupted
Shimla
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan launched a scathing attack on the state’s Congress government, saying the state government’s failure, negligence, and lack of commitment are directly responsible for the slow progress of rail projects in Himachal Pradesh. He said the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri (63 km) new rail line project is a prime example of this.
Harsh Mahajan stated that the project has been approved on a cost-sharing basis, with the central government contributing 75 percent and the Himachal Pradesh government contributing 25 percent. Additionally, the state government will fully bear the land cost of over ₹70 crore. The project’s detailed estimated cost, including land costs, was approved at ₹6,753 crore.
He said that the project requires 124 hectares of land in Himachal Pradesh, but the Congress government has so far provided only 82 hectares. The remaining land from Bilaspur to Beri has not yet been handed over by the state government, directly impacting project work. The unavailability of land is preventing the project from being completed on time.
The state government did not fulfill its financial responsibility.
Harsh Mahajan stated that ₹5,252 crore has been spent on the project so far. According to the cost-sharing agreement, the Himachal Pradesh government was supposed to contribute ₹2,711 crore, but the state government has deposited only ₹847 crore of its share. Consequently, the state government owes ₹1,863 crore, which remains the biggest obstacle to the project’s progress.
He said that this important project has been affected due to the state government’s failure to fulfill its financial and administrative commitments. The central government is eager to move forward with the projects, but without the cooperation of the Sukhu government, development work is impossible.
Centre opens the treasure of development for Himachal
Harsh Mahajan said that the Congress government engages in blame politics against the central government, while the truth is that Himachal Pradesh has received unprecedented budget allocations for railways and infrastructure. He pointed out that—
In the years 2009–14, the average expenditure on railways for Himachal was Rs 108 crore per year.
This is projected to increase to Rs 2716 crore in 2025–26, representing an increase of more than 25 times.
Apart from this, work has already started or DPR has been prepared on important rail projects like Nangal Dam-Una-Amb Andaura-Daulatpur Chowk, Chandigarh-Baddi, Baddi-Ghanauli and Daulatpur Chowk-Talwara.
Congress’s indifference towards strategic and border rail projects
He said that the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line has been identified as a strategic project by the Ministry of Defense. This 489-km-long project includes 270 km of proposed tunnels and is estimated to cost ₹131,000 crore. The state government should be serious about such an important project, but the Congress government’s attitude remains disappointing.
Congress government became the biggest obstacle in development
Harsh Mahajan said that the success of any railway project depends on land acquisition, forest clearance, law and order, and state government cooperation. Unfortunately, the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh has itself become the biggest obstacle to development.
He said that the BJP will not allow any compromise with Himachal’s interests and will continue to expose the Congress government’s failures to the public. The people of the state now understand that the central government wants to deliver development, but the state government’s failures are holding Himachal back.
Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur paid a courtesy call on senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party, the successful Home Minister of the country, respected Shri Amit Shah ji.
