New Delhi, Dec. 12 -- The Union Government has reported substantial progress as well as persistent challenges across key railway infrastructure projects in Himachal Pradesh.

The update was provided by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

The Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line (63 km), sanctioned at a cost of Rs 6,753 crore under a 75:25 cost-sharing arrangement between the Centre and the Himachal Pradesh Government, continues to be hampered by land acquisition delays and incomplete state funding, as per the reply.

Of the required 124 hectares, only 82 hectares have been handed over, with land between Bilaspur and Beri still pending.

The project has incurred Rs 5,252 crore so...