PM Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation two railway projects worth over Rs2900 crore in Asarva, Ahmedabad On Monday . The Ahmedabad (Asarva)-Himmatnagar-Udaipur Gauge Converted Line and the Lunidhar-Jetalsar Gauge Converted Line are two of these projects. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also inaugurated new trains between Bhavnagar and Jetalsar, as well as Asarva and Udaipur.
Railways is converting existing non-broad gauge railway lines to broad gauge in order to achieve a nationwide uni-gauge rail system. The Prime Minister’s dedication of projects is yet another step in this direction.
The Ahmedabad(Asarva)-Himmatnagar-Udaipur Gauge Converted Line is around 300 km long. It will improve connectivity and prove beneficial for tourists, traders, manufacturing units and industries in the region, which will in turn boost employment opportunities and help in the socioeconomic development of the region.
The 58 Km long Lunidhar-Jetalsar Gauge Converted Line will provide a shorter route for Pipavav Port and Bhavnagar from Veraval and Porbandar. The project will enhance freight carrying capacity on this section, thus decongesting the busy Kanalus – Rajkot – Viramgam route. It will now facilitate seamless connectivity to Gir sanctuary, Somnath temple, Diu and Girnar hills as well, thus boosting tourism in the region.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister underlined that lakhs of people of Gujarat who used to be troubled due to the lack of broad gauge line in a large area are going to get a lot of relief. The Prime Minister expressed delight at getting the opportunity to dedicate the line after waiting for decades.
The Prime Minister also stated that the entire route has been revitalised, with the metre gauge line from Asarwa to Udaipur via Himmatnagar being converted to broad gauge. He stated that this part of Gujarat will now be directly connected to the neighbouring state of Rajasthan, as well as the rest of the country.
The gauge conversion work done between Lunidhar and Jetalsar will also improve rail connectivity in this area, he said, and trains departing from here will be able to travel to any part of the country.