Dehra Dun: Even as the Kashmir valley has got a train service, the rail link to Garhwal and Kumaon hills in Uttarakhand still remains a distant dream.

Although, the Indian Railways is undertaking various surveys for running train in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions, officials here said the train project in the hills of Uttarakhand is yet to be cleared by the railway ministry.

The former British government in India wanted to take train to the hill resort of Mussoorie for which it conducted a survey in the 19th century. However, no such moves were taken by the government in the post-Independence era.

Similarly, the train project for the hilly town of Bageshwar in Kumaon region is also lying in doldrums for the past two decades.

Railway officials here claims that a survey is being undertaken for laying a broad gauge track between Rishikesh and the hilly town of Karnprayag in Garhwal.

However, the officials did not give any date as to when the first train would arrive in Garhwal. The sources said the train to Garhwal can be possible by 2030.

Nevertheless, the railways has already completed 60 per cent of the survey on the 126-km Rishikesh-Karnprayag route. The total cost of the project is Rs 1372 crore.
Source : PTI