New Delhi: Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Mohammad Hanifa Jan, raised a question in the Lok Sabha regarding the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh railway project to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. In the context of the completion of the Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar railway, he sought clarification on the Ganderbal-Kargil railway project.

Responding to the query, the Railway Minister stated that the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh railway project has been cancelled due to high costs and low passenger demand. Additionally, there is currently no plan for a railway link survey between Ganderbal (Kashmir) and Kargil (Ladakh), despite the strategic importance of the region.

The Minister explained that railway projects are not based on specific districts or centrally administered regions but are developed according to passenger estimates, operational requirements, and the availability of financial resources.

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He further informed that a survey for the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh railway line was conducted in 2016-17, estimating the cost of the 480-kilometer project at approximately ₹55,000 crore. However, due to low projected passenger traffic, the project was not pursued.

The Minister also mentioned that the Manali-Leh railway line has been designated as a strategic project by the Ministry of Defence, and its survey has been completed.

MP Hanifa Jan assured that he would continue efforts to advance the Manali-Leh railway project and connect it to the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar railway line in the future.