Gujarat MPs demand shifting of Western Railway hqs to Ahmedabad

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) A delegation of BJP MPs from Gujarat today called on Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, and urged him to solve the long-pending issues of railways pertaining to the state, including shifting of headquarters of Western Railway from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

In a memorandum submitted to the Railway Minister, the MPs stated that keeping in view the fact that 90 per cent of the Western Railway lines falls in the territory of Gujarat, its headquarters should be shifted from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

The MPs also demanded adequate rail connectivity for linking all ports of Gujarat for development of the state and the country.

In view of the very heavy traffic between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the memorandum made a strong case for laying a third railway track to overcome the problem. Adequate budgetary provision should also be made for quick completion of the construction of this track.

During the discussion with Mr Prasad, the Gujarat MPs also demanded that an inter-city train between Bhuj and Vadodara via Ahmedabad should be started, considering heavy traffic between Kutch and Vadodara.

They also pointed out that though the Railway Ministry had approved conversion work from meter gauge to broad gauge on the Viramgam-Mehsana-Patan-Bhiladi section, the progress of the work was extremely tardy.

The Gujarat parliamentarians also expressed their displeasure over the ''insensitive and lukewarm attitude'' of senior railway officials towards the pending issues of the state.

Mr Prasad assured the delegation that he would direct the General Manager of Western Railway for arranging a special meeting with Gujarat MPs and sort out the pending issues ''as far as possible with all seriousness''.

The delegation included Jayantibhai Barot, PS Gadhavi, Vijaykumar Rupani, Surendrabhai Patel, Haribhai Patel, Ms Jayaben Thakkar, Kanjibhai Patel and Mansukhbhai Vasava.

UNI