Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj: Make Garsain summer capital

Haridwar, April 13
Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj has demanded that Garsain should be made summer capital, if not the permanent capital, of
the state.
Speaking to The Tribune exclusively at his Prem Nagar ashram here today, he also sought the diversion of Rs 88 crore Central fund that had been allocated for the state Secretariat building.
The fund was now on the verge of being lapsed. It should be diverted for infrastructure building in Gairsain so that it could be made summer capital of the state.
On the ambitious 120-km Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line, Satpal Maharaj, who was Union Minister of State for Railways in Deve Gowda government, said the work on the rail project would soon commence as currently tender process was in the final phase.
He termed the rail project as one of the best things that had happened to the state since its creation as it would immensely help local people and pilgrims, who come here for Char Dham yatra as well as Hemkunt Sahib, and several other places of religious importance.
Adding further, he said this railway line would be later given extension till Shri Badrinath shrine, with Karanprayag being made a hub of railway in hilly districts.
Refuting the media reports that the Army had tried to stage a coup just few months back, Satpal Maharaj, who is chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence Affairs, termed the act as "irresponsible journalism" that was done to gain the media advantage.
Maharaj also pointed that in view of the regular crashes of the MiGs, the committee had written to the Defence Ministry of a time-bound phasing out of these fighter aircraft, replacing these with the state-of-the-art fighter jets.
Exuding confidence that Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna will provide a stable government, Maharaj, who was also in race for the CM's post, said party leaders should focus on Mission 2014 .