Srinagar, June 19: Stating that Rs 450 crore had been disbursed among the persons whose land were acquired for the presitigious rail project in Kashmir, Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar today said the Srinagar railway station would be completed by March 2004. Kumar, who is on a two-day visit to the state to assess the progress of work on the rail project announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last year, said the project will contribute immensely in boosting the economic activity in the Valley. The railway minister, who was accompanied by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, told reporters the Railway Department was working out a scheme for giving employment to those whose land has been acquired for the project.


Thanking the Chief Minister for extending cooperation in expeditious acquisition of land, major impediment in execution of work, Kumar, who was talking to reporters after inspecting the work on the Srinagar railway station at Nowgam here, disclosed that over Rs 450 crore have been disbursed in the valley as compensation.

The roads that would be damaged due to the execution of railway project would not only be repaired but upgraded with new technology, he added.


He said the four platform Srinagar railway station, built at a cost of Rs six crore, was being developed in such a way that it would become a tourist attraction with beautiful landscaping, vast green patching and restaurant on the top floor over looking the area.
Bureau Report