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Bhanupli–Leh line

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Bhanupli–Leh line
Overview
Status
  • Final Location Survey & DPR completed
  • Land acquisition in progress
  • Bhanupli-Bilaspur section under construction
LocalePunjab, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, India
Termini
Websitehttp://www.indianrailways.gov.in
Service
ServicesBhanupli–Bilaspur–Sundernagar–Kullu–Manali–Keylong–Leh
Technical
Line length489 km (304 mi)
Track length489 km (304 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationIn Progress
Highest elevation5,359 m (17,582 ft) at Taglang La
Route map

Legend
Budgam,Jammu Baramulla Line (planned)
 Ganderbal
Kargil
Leh
Choglamshahr
Sindhughat
Shey
Thicksey
Rabirpora
Chang-Karu
Upshi-Junction
Rumtse
Taglang La
Debring
Pang
Lachalungla
Sarchu
Baralachala
Dharcha
Jispa
Keylong
Tandi
Sissu
Rohtang Hault
Manali
Naggar
Kullu
Bhuntar
Aut
Pandoh
Joginder Nagar (planned)
 Mandi
Bilaspur
Jagatkhana
Dharot
Thural
Bhanupli
to Chandigarh Junction
Taglang La

The Bhanupli–Leh line is an under-construction electrified railway track connecting Bhanupli, Punjab,[2] to Leh, Ladakh.[3][4][5] Once complete, the 489 km (304 mi) long, 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide gauge all-weather track is stipulated to reduce travel time from New Delhi to Leh to 10 hours. The railway is to pass through seismic zone IV and V at an elevation of 600 m (2,000 ft) to 5,360 m (17,590 ft) above sea level.[6][7]

The line, with a total length of 489 km (304 mi), including the 13 km (8.1 mi) Leh-Sasherthang rail link, will cost ₹99,000 crore (~US$12.4 billion). This includes ₹62,000 crore (~US$7.75 billion) for 62 tunnels totaling 270 km (170 mi) in length, 114 major bridges, and 90 minor bridges.[6]

Significance and features

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After the Jammu–Baramulla line, the Bhanupli–Leh line will be the most challenging railway project in Indian Railways due to high mountains, a large number of tunnels, high bridges, and severe cold weather.[6] To cater to military logistics needs, the loop line will be constructed at five stations for the exclusive use of military loading and unloading at Karu, Sissu, Debring, Leh, and Sesharthang. The rail line will be extended 13 km (8.1 mi) from Leh to Sesharthang.[3]

Construction phases

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The project requires the acquisition of 1,100 ha (11 km2) of land, of which 26% is forest land, at a cost of ₹11,500 crore (~US$8.5 billion). 150 km (93 mi) of approach roads will be constructed.[3] The construction phases are:

  • Phase 0: Bhanupli to Barmana in Bilaspur, 63.1 km (39.2 mi) long link connecting Ladakh to Indian railway network at existing Bhanupli station of Ambala-Sirhind-Una rail line.[3] As of February 2022, the expected completion date for this track is 2025.[8]
  • Phase 1: Barmana to Mandi
  • Phase 2: Mandi to Manali
  • Phase 3: Manali to Upshi
  • Phase 4: Upshi to Leh
  • Phase 5: Leh to Sasherthang 13 km (8.1 mi) link, included in the project at the request of the Indian military[3]

Phase 0: Bhanupli to Barmana (Bilaspur), 63.1 km

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The initial construction phase is focused on connecting the existing Bhanupli railway station in the Rupnagar district of Punjab to Barmana in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. It has a total track length of 63.1 km (39.2 mi), 20 tunnels totaling 25 km (16 mi), 24 bridges totaling 6 km (3.7 mi), and 2 viaducts totaling 2 km (1.2 mi).

There are five main stations in this phase: one in Punjab, at Thural; and four in Himachal Pradesh, at Dharot, Jagatkhana, Bilaspur, and Barmana.[8][9]

Phase 1

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As of a land acquisition that took place in May 2022, phase 1 of this construction project that connects Barmana and Mandi is underway.[10]

Formerly planned further extensions

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Originally, a couple of further extensions from Leh also were planned to be constructed at a later time. However, in 2023 these were officially declared to be "shelved due to low traffic projection".[6] They comprised the following.

  • 1. Leh-Srinagar rail line, 480 km (300 mi), a Rs 55,896 crore project.[6][11]
    • 1.1. Leh-Kargil rail line, 210 km (130 mi).[11]
    • 1.2. Kargil-Srinagar rail line, 225 km (140 mi).[11]
  • 2. Leh-Pathankot line, 664 km (413 mi), Rs 70,308 crore project.[6]

Status updates

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  • March 2012: The Ministry of Railways sends the project to the Planning Commission for appraisal.[12][13]
  • December 2016: The 498 km (309 mi) Bhanupli–Leh rail Final Location Survey (FLS) approved at a cost of ₹345 crore. The railway requests adequate land to set up a camp office in Ladakh and the required infrastructure from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).[14]
  • June 2017: Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu lays the foundation stone to mark the beginning of FLS.[15] FLS to be completed by October 2020.[16]
  • December 2021: The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Leh-Sasherthang rail link (for military logistics) is completed.[3]
  • February 2022: Land acquisition begins in Bilaspur district for the (Barmana) Bilaspur to Mandi section of Phase-1.[10]
  • May 2022: The completion date for Phase-0 is 2025.[8] Seven tunnels of Phase-0a (Bhanupli to Dharot) are complete; track-laying work has begun. Funds for Phase-0b (Dharot to Bilaspur) were allocated, and construction began.[9]
  • July 2023: "Bilaspur-Leh line" final survey and DPR completed, no target completion date for construction given. Other 2 rail routes to Leh, "Leh-Srinagar line" & "Leh-Pathankot line", were surveyed but abandoned due to low traffic projections and consequent financial non-viability.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bhanupli Railway Station Timeline - Railway Enquiry".
  2. ^ "Bhanupli Railway Station Timeline - Railway Enquiry".
  3. ^ a b c d e f "डीपीआर तैयार: सेना के लिए चीन सीमा तक अलग से बिछेगा 13 किलोमीटर रेल ट्रैक". Amar Ujala. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Himachal: Railways Awards Bhanupali-Bilaspur Railway Line Project". Nvonews.com. 19 September 2009. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Rail link to Leh: Centre seeks Plan panel nod". visitladakh.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "New Rail Lines for Leh-Pathankot, Leh-Kargil-Srinagar Shelved Due to Low Traffic Projections". News18. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Leh? Soon, It'll Be Just a Train Ride Away". Outlook Traveller. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  8. ^ a b c [1], Amar Ujala, 24 April 2022.
  9. ^ a b रेल विकास निगम: भानुपल्ली-बिलासपुर-लेह रेललाइन के लिए बिछने लगा ट्रैक, Amar Ujala, 15 May 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Land acquisition for strategic rail line begins in Himachal". 9 February 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "The Srinagar-Kargil-Leh line is a proposed railway line from Srinagar station via the town of Kargil to Leh by Indian Railways. The line was designated a national project on 26 February 2013 - www.Rail-Pass.com". www.rail-pass.com. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Budget 2012-2013 Speech of Dinesh Trivedi Minister of Railways. March 14, 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  13. ^ "'Manali–Leh railway line project report with Planning Commission'". Himvani.com. 26 December 2010. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ "Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line on fast track". The Times of India. 3 December 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  15. ^ Khosla, Sakshita (27 June 2017). "Train to Leh, Ladakh: Suresh Prabhu lays foundation stone for Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh Rail Line to be built at a cost of Rs 157 cr". India.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Centre announces final location survey of three railway lines in Arunachal Pradesh". The New Indian Express. PTI. 1 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
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