The ambitious Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri railway line project in Himachal Pradesh is facing significant delays due to the state government's inability to fully transfer required land and deposit its share of the construction cost. This critical update was provided by the Ministry of Railways in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question from MP Indu Bala Goswami during the winter session.
Land Shortfall and Financial Pending Dues
According to the ministry's detailed reply, the railway line requires a total of 124 hectares of land in Himachal Pradesh. However, the state authorities have so far transferred only 82 hectares to the Railways. Construction work is currently limited to this transferred portion. The crucial stretch of land between Bilaspur and Beri remains untransferred, which is directly hampering progress.
The financial commitment is another major hurdle. The total approved cost for the 63-km line is Rs 6,753 crore, which includes Rs 1,617 crore for land acquisition. As per the funding pattern, the Himachal Pradesh government is responsible for 25% of the construction cost, with the central government bearing the remaining 75%. To date, Rs 5,252 crore has been spent on the project. The state's liability from this expenditure amounts to Rs 2,711 crore, of which it has paid only Rs 847 crore. A substantial sum of Rs 1,863 crore is still pending from the state.
The railway ministry explicitly stated that "the non-availability of land is adversely impacting the project" and that the delay in depositing the state's share is causing construction holdups. It reiterated that while the central government is committed to completing the project, its success hinges on the state's cooperation.
Project Overview and Strategic Extension
Sanctioned back in 2008-09, the Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri line will pass through 15 villages in Bilaspur district. The challenging alignment involves construction through five tunnels with a total length of 10.7 km and over 12 bridges (five major and seven minor).
The ministry also shed light on the proposed strategic extension of this line. The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line has been identified as a "strategic line by the Ministry of Defence". The survey for this massive project is complete, and a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared. This extension, estimated to cost a staggering Rs 1,31,000 crore, envisions a 489-km-long line with 270 km passing through tunnels. The ministry noted the extreme challenges, stating the project traverses difficult Himalayan terrains "full of geological surprises and numerous problems."
Other Railway Developments in Himachal
In related developments, the ministry informed the House that work has begun on the 52-km-long Daulatpur Chowk–Kartoli–Talwara railway line to boost rail infrastructure in the state. Construction has also commenced on the new 28-km Chandigarh–Baddi railway line at a cost of Rs 1,540 crore.
The reply highlighted a contrast in budgetary support. Between 2009 and 2014, Himachal Pradesh was provided Rs 108 crore for railway infrastructure development. For the 2025–26 fiscal, a significantly larger budget provision of Rs 2,716 crore has been made for railway projects in the state.
In a separate response to another query from MP Goswami, the ministry clarified that the Jagadhari (Haryana) to Paonta Sahib (Sirmaur, HP) railway line project could not proceed. Although the survey for the 62-km line is complete, the project was shelved due to low traffic projections.
