Dhumal for direct train between Una and Haridwar

Shimla, Jan 31 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P K Dhumal today urged Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to start direct train service between Una and Haridwar to facilitate to and fro movement of pilgrims from the state.

In view of the demand from the public for starting a train between these two stations, the Railway Ministry should initiate steps in this regard, besides earmarking adequate budgetary provisions for the construction of Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri, he said in his letter to Mr Prasad.

Mr Dhumal said by earmarking adequate budgetary provisions for the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri section, the Ministry would honour the commitement made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his last visit to the state.

''In the absence of any expansion in the railway network in Himachal since independence, roads are the sole mode of transportation of man and material,'' he said.

He said this led to immense pressure on the roads since the number of vehicular traffic was multiplying year after year and in the absence of alternate transportation facilities, the national highways, state highways and other link roads were getting choked.

Expressing concern over the rising number of vehicles in the state, he said there was urgent need to decongest the road by creating alternate transportation facilities like expansion of railway network and upgradation of the air services to the state.

The Chief Minister said the expansion of the railway network in the state was very important since the state attracted a large number of tourists from around the world.

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