We need it because
It shares international borders and thus strengthening of railway infrastructure is important for the region
Uttarakhand is also known for its tourism, particularly pilgrimage tourism, and lack of basic railway infrastructure is a big hindrance in exploiting the state’s full tourism potential
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, February 22
Clamour for better railway infrastructure has started growing in Uttarakhand even as the state anxiously awaits for the Union Railway Budget to be presented on February 25.
Seeking expansion of railway services, Uttarakhand residents led by State Human Rights Association secretary and senior lawyer Alok Ghildiyal have submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, to Additional District Magistrate, Dehradun, Jharna Kamthan.
Ghildiyal have asserted that Uttarakhand keeps strategic importance as it shares international borders and thus strengthening of railway infrastructure is very important for the region.
“Uttarakhand is also known for its tourism, particularly pilgrimage tourism, and lack of basic railway infrastructure is a big hindrance in exploiting the state’s full tourism potential,” Ghildiyal signatory to the memorandum pointed out.
Strongly favouring a Zonal Office of the Railways in Uttarakhand, the memorandum also said by setting up the zonal office, railway projects in the region would get speedier implementation. It also held that there was scarcity of the railway staff at reservation counters across the state, causing immense inconvenience to residents.
Aditya Kothari from the Navkranti Swaraj Morcha, Uttarakhand, said it was strange that after more than six decades of independence, the region was devoid of basic railway infrastructure.
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Panwar) leader Manmohan Lakhera asserted that Uttarakhand had been repeatedly ignored as far as expansion of railway infrastructure was concerned. He asserted that little could be expected from both BJP and Congress as the parties had never taken issues with any seriousness and the Railways was no exception.
