Rathwa flags off Bhavnagar-Okha train

Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Nov 8 (UNI) A new train between Bhavnagar and Okha was today flagged off by the Union Minister of State for Railways Naranbhai Rathwa.

Speaking at a ceremony at the railway station here, Mr Rathwa said the Railway Ministry is upgrading facilities for passengers and also goods carrying capacity of the railway network.

Special thrust is being given to connect ports with hinterland for faster transportation of goods. For this, nearly 1,400 kms long railway lines will be laid at a cost of Rs 11,000 crore in next seven years, he said. Of this, nearly 600 km long track would be laid in Gujarat alone because of its long coastal line.

In the next Railway budget, the priorities would be on laying of tracks on Bhavnagar-Tarapur, Ahmedabad-Botad and Ahmedabad-Udaipur routes. Survey work of Bhavnagar-Tarapur line has been completed for 80 per cent of the route, the minister added.

He also inaugurated a computerised booking centre set up at Bhavnagar Railway station.

UNI XR-MP MJ/OBB MQA GC2036