Sonia to inaugurate Delhi-Rewari rail line on Sunday

New Delhi, Oct 5 (UNI) UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will dedicate to the nation Delhi-Rewari railway line and lay the foundation stones for new lines between Rohtak-Rewari via Jhajjar and for Shakurbasti-Rohtak sections of Northern Railway at a function in Rewari (Haryana) on Sunday.

The Rs. 207.31-crore Delhi (Sarai Rohilla)-Rewari rail project will improve connectivity to the western states of Rajasthan, Gujrat and Maharashtra, increase the line capacity, enhance commuter services and give a boost to industrialisation in both Delhi and Haryana.

Ms Gandhi will also flag off 4324/4323 New Delhi-Rohtak Express and 9RD/10Rd Delhi-Rewari passenger trains.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will preside over the function where Haryana Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda will be the chief guest.

The gauge conversion of Delhi (Sarai Rohilla)-Rewari 2nd line was sanctioned in 1995-96 as a modification to the Phulera-Ahmedabad gauge conversion work.

However, in order to maintain meter gauge link between Delhi and Bikaner and between Delhi and Udaipur stations, this project was put on hold until 2004-2005, during which it was again taken up for execution.

The 2nd meter gauge line between Delhi Sarai Rohilla and Rewari is 79 km in length and its conversion has provided several benefits, including capacity enhancement of alternative BG route to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, for both passenger and goods trains.

It has also improved connectivity to Kandla Port on the west coast and ensured smooth train operation, improvement in punctuality and less travel time from Rewari.

During the gauge conversion, the safety aspects of the railway line were also upgraded, with the provision of colour light signals and Solid State Interlocking (SSI).

For the gauge conversion work, the existing meter gauge infrastructure was strengthened through modification in the station yards, rebuilding of 33 bridges to suit BG standards, strengthening of 69 old Meter Gauge bridges and constructing high level passenger platforms at 11 railway stations.

The proposed new Broad Gauge railway line between Rohtak and Rewari, now connected via Bhiwani, will provide a direct and shorter link between the two towns via Jhajjar in Haryana.

This will benefit the people of the area, including important district headquarters like Rohtak, Panipat, Jind, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Punchkula. It will also provide connectivity to a power house coming up at Jhajjar and provide a convenient means of transporting coal for its use.

The construction length of the project is 75.35 and the sanctioned cost is Rs.194.83 crore, which will be equally shared by the Railways and Haryana.

There will be five new stations on this rail link -- Dighal, Jhajjar, Machhrauli, Palhawas and Gokulgarh.

The construction of the proposed new railway line is expected to be completed before the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Ms Gandhi will also flag off New Delhi-Rohtak Express for the convenience of intercity rail passengers on the New Delhi-Rohtak route and a new passenger train between Delhi Jn. and Rewari stations.

UNI