Palanpur-Samkhiali passenger train to run by September end

Palanpur, Sep 15 (UNI) The first passenger train on Palanpur-Samkhiali section connecting Gandhidham will run by the end of this month as Railway Safety Commissioner Prashant Kumar successfully completed the speed trial test today.

Executive Engineer R K Sharma said the speed trial-test was completed successfully from Samkhiali to Radhanpur on September 8 but due to heavy rains the remaining testing had been put off. Now the testing has been completed in the second phase from Palanpur to Radhanpur, he added.

Only in last March Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had flagged off the first goods train on the converted Palanpur-Gandhidham section. Jointly funded by Rail Vikas Nigam and Kutch Railway Company Ltd the project costed Rs 451.52 crore. It would not only provide connectivity to Kandla and Mundra port but will also be a vital link for north bound traffic from Kandla.

The conversion work on the 248 km Palanpur-Samkhiali section was completed within a record period of three months, said Managing Director of Kutch Railway Company Ltd Yogesh Sharma here today.

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