The foundation stone of the ambitious Rs 4,295 crore Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail project, connecting Garhwal region with rest of the country, was today laid by Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi and Defence Minister A K Antony in Chamoli district here.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was earlier scheduled to lay the foundation, could not make it owing to her indisposition. The project, seen as a gift from the Centre to the people of Uttarakhand, has come at a time when Assembly elections are not far away in the hill state. The project is expected to be completed in five years and would connect the backward Garhwal region with the rest of the country. It would cut short the arduous eight-hour road journey between the holy city of Rishikesh and Karanprayag to just four hours.

The 125-km long railway line was sanctioned by the Railway ministry in 2010 and Rs 4,295 crore has already been earmarked in the Railway budget, railway officials said. The project, which was earlier entrusted with the engineering wing of the Northern Railways, would now be undertaken by the Railways Vikas Nigam. The corporation has been given 5-10 years to lay the line and construct 12 stations, 81 tunnels and a 65-mt high bridge. Union minister Harish Rawat, who belongs to Uttarakhand, was also present.

PTI