Delhi comes closer to Kandla by new broad gauge route

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Palanpur, Mar 24 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav today inaugurated the Palanpur-Samkhiali section, which will reduce the distance between the Kandla port and Delhi by about 134 kilometres.

He said that passenger trains would be introduced on this section after a trial period of six months.

Flagging off a container train on this route, Mr Yadav said with the completion of second phase between Samkhiali and Gandhidham, connectivity to ports on the Western coastal areas in Gujarat would not only be augmented but Kutch would come closer to North India.

The Railway Minister also said the work on dedicated freight corridor would commence as per the announcement in the budget.

''The corridor would cover more than 700 km and Gujarat would be one of the states in the western region to benefit from it.'' He said double-decker container trains would also be introduced on this route. ''The double decker container service, introduced between Jaipur and Pipavav yesterday, will be anyway crossing Palanpur,'' he said.

He said the railways have picked-up in profits, making a gain of Rs 11,000 crore during the past two years.

''My dream is to take the Indian Railways to the number one position in the world, from its present number three rank,'' he said.

Minister of State for Railways Naran Rathwa said that the railways were ready to undertake any programme in the state if the state government came forward to part with its 50 per cent contribution.

He said that a survey to lay the new rail line to the famous pilgrim centre Ambaji has been carried out and if approved, the new rail link between Abu Road and Ambaji would be provided for pilgrims. ''Similarly, surveys would also be conducted for a new rail link between Modasa and Shamlaji and Shamlaji and Udaipur,'' he said.

Mr Yadav also announced a prize of Rs 10 lakh for the Kutch Railway Company Limited for its efforts to complete the project within a stipulated time.

UNI XR-MMG SSS SB BD2258

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