Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh): Tourists and passengers can relish the view of 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries on the Bilaspur-Leh rail track which is important from the strategic and tourism point of view.
The range of 2 to 10 km of this track will cover 13 wildlife sanctuaries, 10 of which are in Himachal and three in Ladakh. Seven of these in Himachal and two in Ladakh are included in the eco-sensitive zone.
All the sanctuaries were to be covered by the railway line, but the Northern Railway and Forest Department made a plan that included these sanctuaries to be made an important part of the rail track so that it would promote tourism. This will give a chance to the travellers to see the wildlife closely.
Being an important project of the Ministry of Defense, this track is of strategic importance, also from the tourism and business point of view, this railway line will establish new dimensions for Himachal and Ladakh. Northern Railway is giving special attention to this track.
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Recently, the project director of Northern Railway, alignment engineer of UXEL and experts from IIT Roorkee had reached Ladakh for the alignment survey.
The railway track will pass through Bandali, Chandratal, Cash, Kanwar, Khokhan, Kibber, Kugati, Manali, Nagaru, Sainj in Himachal. Of these, 7 sanctuaries will be within 7 kilometres of the track.
Two of the Hemish National Park, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary and Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary of Ladakh will also fall within the radius of two km of the track.
''In the Alignment Survey, special care was taken that instead of eliminating the wildlife sanctuaries falling by the track, they should be kept safe, so that they could become an important part of this railroad in terms of tourism. Sanctuaries present in Himachal will be cleared by the state government, but the centre will have to apply for Ladakh's clearance to construct rail track,'' said Harpal Singh, Project Director, Bilaspur-Leh Rail line.
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