Rs 1,300-cr rail projects to spur Gujarat tribal belt
The proposed Rs 1,300-crore rail projects in Central and South Gujarat would ensure speedy development of the state's tribal belt.
VADODARA: The proposed Rs 1,300-crore rail projects in Central and South Gujarat would ensure speedy development of the state's tribal belt, Minister of State for Railways Naranbhai Rathwa said on Friday.
These plans, once fully executed, can also help in providing alternative route to Mumbai, he told reporters.
The projects include Rs 400-crore conversion of narrow gauge line between Jhagadiya-Netrang and its extention up to Nandurbar in Maharashtra and Rs 300-crore extension of Ankleshwar-Rajpipla line up to Kavadiya.
Rathwa said several agencies from Vadodara, Bharuch, Rajpipla, Jhagadiya, Surat, Bilimora-Vapi and Ankleshwar have made presentations before him to undertake conversion and extension work on these routes.
During the erstwhile rule of Sayajirao Gaekwad of princely state of Baroda, these narrow gauge lines were constructed for linking towns and cities.
People from the tribal-dominated belt now want to figure on the development map and these projects would go a long way in realising their dream, the Minister said.
Rathwa himself is a tribal leader who has been elected from the reserved constituency of Chhotaudepur in Vadodara district.
He said work on extending Vadodara-Chhotaudepur line up to Dhar in Madhya Pradesh is going on, while conversion of narrow gauge line between Dabhoi and Pratapnagar into broad guage is nearing completion.
These plans, once fully executed, can also help in providing alternative route to Mumbai, he told reporters.
The projects include Rs 400-crore conversion of narrow gauge line between Jhagadiya-Netrang and its extention up to Nandurbar in Maharashtra and Rs 300-crore extension of Ankleshwar-Rajpipla line up to Kavadiya.
Rathwa said several agencies from Vadodara, Bharuch, Rajpipla, Jhagadiya, Surat, Bilimora-Vapi and Ankleshwar have made presentations before him to undertake conversion and extension work on these routes.
During the erstwhile rule of Sayajirao Gaekwad of princely state of Baroda, these narrow gauge lines were constructed for linking towns and cities.
People from the tribal-dominated belt now want to figure on the development map and these projects would go a long way in realising their dream, the Minister said.
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Rathwa himself is a tribal leader who has been elected from the reserved constituency of Chhotaudepur in Vadodara district.
He said work on extending Vadodara-Chhotaudepur line up to Dhar in Madhya Pradesh is going on, while conversion of narrow gauge line between Dabhoi and Pratapnagar into broad guage is nearing completion.
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