**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1725 concerning the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line, to be answered on December 10, 2025. The response confirms that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared. The document outlines the project's features, estimated cost, and factors affecting its completion, as well as stakeholders to be consulted.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Details:**
* The Bilaspur – Manali – Leh railway line is identified as a strategic line by the Ministry of Defence.
* The survey has been completed and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared.
* The project passes through difficult terrain in the Himalayas.
* The total length of the project is 489 km, including 270 km of tunnels.
* The anticipated cost of the project, as per the DPR, is ₹1,31,000 crore.
* The alignment passes through various locations, including Beri, Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Sissu, Darcha, Keylong, Sarchu, Pang, Rumtse, Upshi, Kharu, and terminates at Leh Terminus.
* **Project Sanctioning and Timelines:**
* Sanctioning of the project requires consultation with stakeholders, including State Governments, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Defence.
* Exact timelines depend on appraisals and approvals by various stakeholders due to sanctioning being a continuous and dynamic process.
* **Factors Affecting Completion:**
* Land acquisition by State Governments.
* Forest clearance.
* Shifting of infringing utilities.
* Statutory clearances from various authorities.
* Geological and topographical conditions of the area.
* Law and order situation in the area of the project site.
* Number of working months in a year for the project site.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Involved in land acquisition and consultation during the project sanctioning.
* **Action Required:** Facilitate land acquisition processes.
**Ministry of Finance**
* **Impact:** Involved in project sanctioning and approvals.
* **Action Required:** Participate in project appraisal and approval processes.
**Ministry of Defence**
* **Impact:** The railway line is a strategic line identified by the Ministry of Defence, requiring consultation during sanctioning.
* **Action Required:** Provide input and approvals during the project sanctioning phase.
**Stakeholders (Unspecified)**
* **Impact:** Project sanctioning and completion are contingent on consultations, appraisals and approvals.
* **Action Required:** Participate in consultations, provide timely feedback and approvals to ensure timely progress.
Key Entities Referenced
Bilaspur-Manali-Leh Railway Line: A proposed railway line identified as a strategic line by the Ministry of Defence, with a detailed project report prepared.
Ministry of Railways: The primary ministry responsible for the project as stated in the document.
Ministry of Defence: Identifies the Bilaspur – Manali – Leh new line as strategic line
Detailed Project Report (DPR): A report that has been prepared, outlining the project's details, features, and estimated cost.
Ladakh: The region where the railway line's economic development is expected to have significance.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1725
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
DPR OF BILASPUR-MANALI-LEH RAILWAY LINE
1725. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Bilaspur–Manali-
Leh railway line has been prepared and approved;
(b) if so, the salient features and estimated cost of the said project;
(c) whether the Government has fixed any timeline for
commencement of the construction work and its completion and if
so, the details thereof, phase and section-wise; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to expedite the project in view
of its significance for national security, regional connectivity and
economic development of the border areas in Ladakh and if so, the
details thereof including measures being taken in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): Bilaspur – Manali – Leh new line is identified as strategic line
by Ministry of Defence. The survey has been completed and Detailed
Project Report has been prepared. The project passes through difficult
terrain of Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises and
numerous problems. The total length of the project is 489 Km including
tunnels of 270 km length. Anticipated cost of the project as per Detailed
Project Report is ₹1,31,000 crore.The alignment passes through Beri, Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Sissu,
Darcha, Keylong, Sarchu, Pang, Rumtse, Upshi, Kharu and terminates at
Leh Terminus, connecting important towns of Himachal Pradesh and
Ladakh.
Sanctioning of project requires consultation with various stake-holders
including State Governments and necessary approvals viz., Ministry of
Finance, Ministry of Defence etc. As sanctioning of projects is a
continuous and dynamic process, exact timelines depend upon
appraisals and approvals by various stakeholders.
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which
include the following:
Land acquisition by State Government
Forest clearance
Shifting of infringing utilities
Statutory clearances from various authorities
Geological and topographical conditions of area
Law and order situation in the area of project site
Number of working months in a year for particular project site
etc.
All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.
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