SECR sets priorities for Nagpur-Nagbid NG line

Nagpur: In a bid to put Rs708 crore Nagpur-Nagbhid narrow gauge project on fast track, South East Central Railway (SECR) general manager SS Soin and divisional railway manager (DRM) Amit Kumar Agarwal on Saturday set out priorities by visiting the section.

Talking to TOI, Agarwal said the window trailing inspection on Saturday was basically a technical and commercial viability survey. The project will be constructed on 50:50 cost sharing basis between Maharashtra government and the Central government.

"Priorities have been worked out, especially after state announced Rs354 crore for the project last month. The state will start allocating money for the project in phases from 2018-19 budget. We inspected present health status of the route, alignments and number of bridges to come in way, besides land acquisition issues. We also looked from possible business angles," Agarwal said.

As far as feasibility is concerned, Agarwal said the project will go a long way in easing freight as well as passenger congestion between north-south direction.

Of the total 628km narrow gauge network under SECR's Nagpur Division, 108km Nagpur-Nagbhid only remains to be converted into broad gauge. Work on remaining narrow gauge projects is in progress.

Agarwal said, now that the state government has agreed to share the cost, NITI Aayog will formally issue a letter granting final clearance to the project after which a location survey will be done. "Post this survey, detailed estimates will be prepared which will be put up before the Railway Board for final sanction," he added.

However, Agarwal said, work on the project will start when all the land acquisition formalities will be completed. There have been fresh direction from railway minister Piyush Goel that work on projects should start only when land acquisition is complete.

The decision on Nagpur-Nagbhid gauge conversion was announced in 2013-14 railway budget at an estimated cost of Rs401 crore. The project was to go ahead with necessary approvals. In 2013, the state agreed to share Rs188.11 crore of the tentative cost of Rs376.21 crore by the railways.

However, as per the Railway Board's advise the abstract cost of the project was revised to Rs708.11 crore based on the project's terms of reference (TOR) which included additional cost of gradients, bridges, signalling, mechanical, electrification etc.