BJP MP Anurag Thakur today pitched for higher allocation for the Bhanupali-Manali-Leh railway track, saying it is strategically important and the Defence Ministry should earmark at least Rs 1,000 crore for it.
Thakur, a member from Himachal Pradesh, raised the issue in Lok Sabha saying the allocation of Rs 165 crore for the project was not adequate.
"There is a need for more than Rs 1000 crore... Defence Ministry should keep Rs 1000 crore for it," he said.
He justified the demand for higher allocation by saying that the link is crucial from the strategic point of view as it would provide easier movement for the troops posted on the Line of Control (LoC) in Ladakh.
At the same time, Thakur praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring last-mile connectivity of Railways in his state.
The railway link, that will connect Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, is proposed to be high- elevation all-weather broad-gauge track.
The total expected length of Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh railway line is almost 500 km.
