India, Feb. 11 -- Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday reviewed the progress of under-construction and proposed rail projects in the state and directed officials to build escape tunnels alongside railway lines to serve as parallel evacuation routes in emergencies.

The chief minister, who chaired a review meeting at the Secretariat, said that escape tunnels must be constructed for railway safety and can also serve as alternative road links in the future.

He also directed officials to prepare a long-term utilisation plan for the escape tunnels under the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line project and explore the possibility of extending the rail line from Karnprayag to Bageshwar.

Dhami instructed officials to expedite w...