Meter gauge to be converted into broad gauge by 2010: Lalu Yadav

Jabalpur, Dec 10 (UNI) Railways Minster Lalu Prasad Yadav announced that all meter gauge in the country would be converted into broad gauge by 2010.

''This would help in increasing the number of trains,'' said Mr Yadav, while addressing a function before waving green flag to Jabalpur-New Delhi bi-weekly train.

Mr Yadav named the train 'Shreedham Express'. 'Shreedham' is a station in Jabalpur division where Dwarka Peeth Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati's ashram is located.

He said an action plan has been chalked out to lay special tracks for plying goods train between New Delhi to Mumbai and Mumbai to Chennai in the first phase. Later, efforts would be made to connect Kolkata to other three metros.

On completion of the project, passenger trains can ply at a faster pace. Besides, it would help in reducing number of trains halted at a station.

However, he did not mention how long it would take to complete the project.

Union Minister Suresh Pachouri described Mr Yadav as the most successful Railways Minister of the country so far. His efforts brought a turnaround in loss-making Railways, which started churning huge profits.

He said state governments would have to extend support to Railways in removing encroachment from its land so that the process of laying tracks could be speeded up.

UNI