Himachal Pradesh News
Centre must fully fund rail, airport projects in Himachal: Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri
Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Wednesday said that major Central government infrastructure projects, including railway expansion and airport development, should be fully funded by the Union government, asserting that small hill states cannot be burdened with the financial responsibility of such large-scale works.
Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Wednesday said that major Central government infrastructure projects, including railway expansion and airport development, should be fully funded by the Union government, asserting that small hill states cannot be burdened with the financial responsibility of such large-scale works.
Responding to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s allegation that the state government was not cooperating with the Centre by refusing to share costs of railway projects, Agnihotri said the charge was misplaced and ignored the financial constraints of hill states like Himachal Pradesh.
The Deputy Chief Minister pointed out that the state government was already bearing the cost of the expansion of Gaggal Airport in Kangra district, even though airport development is primarily a Central subject.
“Himachal Pradesh does not have the financial capacity to undertake large infrastructure projects. Despite this, the state is being forced to borrow funds for the expansion of Gaggal airport, which ideally should have been fully financed by the Centre,” Agnihotri said.
He further stated that the Centre was pressuring the state to contribute funds for the extension of the Bhanupali–Barmana–Bilaspur railway line, a demand he described as unjustified. Agnihotri stressed that the proposed extension of the broad-gauge rail line up to Leh holds immense strategic and national security importance.
“Projects of national and strategic significance, especially those linked to border security, must be funded entirely by the Union government. The Centre should support hill states instead of placing an unsustainable financial burden on them,” he said.
