Vadodara division gets Rs 265 crore sanctioned for railway projects

VADODARA: The railway budget has sanctioned projects worth Rs 265 crore for the Vadodara railway division that includes gauge conversions up to Kevadiya that will help tourists reach world’s tallest Statue of Unity by train.
While Rs 15 crore have been sanctioned for gauge conversion with electrification for 96.46km-long Miyagam-Karjan-Dabhoi-Samlaya railway line, Rs 150 crore have been sanctioned for gauge conversion and extension of the 49.75km Dabhoi-Chandod up to Kevadiya.
Presently, the only option available for tourists is to travel by road.
The railway division is already pursuing these projects, expenditure of which will be made after following due processes, mandatory approvals and sanctions.
Gauge conversion projects of 24.08km Samni-Jambusar line, 48.2km-long Jambusar-Vishwamitri line, 53.53km-long Samlaya-Timba Road, 37.26km-long Nadiad-Petlad railway line and 22.5km-long Petlad-Bhadran railway line have also been sanctioned.
At the same time, first phase of doubling of 35km Surat-Kosamba and 79km-long Anand-Godhra railway line have been been approved.
Of the sanctioned traffic facilities, yard remodelling and other works include segregation of Ahmedabad and Godhra line at Vadodara yard through which speed of trains on existing New Delhi-Mumbai route (including Vadodara-Ahmedabad) will increase. The aim of this project is to achieve a travel time of 12 hours between Delhi and Mumbai.
Projects to increase passenger amenities include augmentation of train watering facilities between platform number one to platform number six at Vadodara railway station.
Cover shed of platforms of 12 railway stations that fall in Vadodara railway division will be either be extended or raised. The budget includes provision of installing five lifts at Vadodara railway station to increase amenities for commuters.