PM to lay foundation stone for rail projects in MP

Jhabua, MP, Feb 7 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone for two railway projects, amounting to Rs 1,620 crore, in this tribal-dominated district tomorrow.

Official sources said today that all preparations -- in connection with Dr Singh's visit -- were complete. The premier would reach Indore by a special plane from New Delhi and arrive here by helicopter at 1130 hrs. The ceremony would take place on nearby Ranapur Road in Haribhai Ki Baori area. A sum of Rs 1,000 crore would be spent on the 252-km Maksi-Godhra line and the rest on the 152-km Chhota Udaipur-Indore line.

The projects would be completed in eight and six years respectively. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, Industry Minister Kamalnath, Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of State for Railway Naranbhai Rathwa, MoS (Parliamentary Affairs) Suresh Pachouri, MoS (Agriculture) and local MP Kantilal Bhuria are expected.

Dr Singh would return to Delhi via Indore.

UNI XC-AC 1545