The survey for the BilaspurManali-Leh railway line has begun in Mandi and Kullu districts. A team of the Northern Railways has arrived in Mandi, which will conduct the aerial survey of the proposed railway line. According to official sources, the Railways has already completed the final survey of the railway line from Leh to Manali. The team will conduct the aerial survey of the railway line from Bilaspur to Manali. After the China-India Army face-off in the Galwan valley of Ladakh, the Central Government is keen to expedite the work on the Bilaspur-ManaliLeh railway project, which is strategically important. The Railways has approached the Mandi and Kullu administrations for permission to conduct the aerial survey for the project. Rugved Thakur, Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, said, “We have given them permission to use the Kangni helipad and the Sundernagar helipad. The team will stay here till September 30 for the survey”. He said the team would adopt all SOPs regarding Covid-19 during its stay in Mandi.

• Railways has proposed that its strategically significant Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line along the Indo-China border, which will be the world's highest railway track, be declared a national project, officials said Wednesday.
• It has also suggested that the construction on a 51 kilometre stretch between Upshi in Himachal Pradesh and Phe in Leh begin immediately.
• "The first phase of the survey for the project has been completed and initial estimates put the cost of the 465 km line at Rs  83,360 crore. This is the most difficult project undertaken by the railways and is one of five most significant projects in terms of strategic importance.