New Delhi, Dec. 17 -- The Union government on Wednesday said that the survey work for the proposed Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh railway line, a strategically important project for Ladakh, has been completed and prepared its Detailed Project Report (DPR).

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Defence has identified the project as a strategic railway line as the route will pass through extremely challenging Himalayan terrain and is expected to involve the construction of nearly 270 kilometres of tunnels.

The proposed railway line is estimated to cost around rs 1.31 lakh crore and will have a total length of 489 kilometres, informed the Ministry.

The government clarified that before the project can be...