PM to inaugurate Samruddhi e-way post Diwali: Fadnavis

Nagpur: The Nagpur-Mumbai expressway, officially named Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Diwali, said deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi on Tuesday, Fadnavis said a detailed project report (DPR) for a high-speed railway line alongside the expressway will be prepared apart from exploring feasibility of a cargo rail project.
Fadnavis said, “Inauguration of the expressway will be done soon, and by the PM himself. Even chief minister Eknath Shinde had requested the PM, following which we have received a positive reply. Only thing remaining is to fix the date, but I don’t think it will happen before Diwali.”
The deputy CM today met Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and one of the projects discussed was a high-speed railway line alongside the expressway. “While acquiring land for the expressway project, we have kept aside land specifically for the railways. Along with Raosaheb Danve (MoS, railways), I had earlier decided that we must start high-speed railway here. The same thing was discussed today (with Vaishnaw),” said Fadnavis.
He added that 68% land for the project has been acquired. “Another 32% land is needed and for that DPR will be prepared,” said Fadnavis adding, “Apart from high-speed rail, we are also going for a feasibility study on starting high-speed cargo rail there.”
In February, Danve had mentioned about plans to start the high-speed railway line which will run parallel to the expressway.
Though officially not being called a ‘bullet train’, its performance won’t be much different. Speaking to TOI separately, Fadnavis said high-speed rail and bullet train are similar. “It’s mostly the same. Bullet train is Japanese Shinkansen, this can be any other technology,” said Fadnavis. He also confirmed that high-speed rail speed will ‘mostly’ match that of the bullet train.
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Rs487 crore work order for Nagpur railway station issued
Nagpur railway station’s redevelopment plan got a major boost today, with work order of Rs487 crore being issued.
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the development after his meeting with railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
“It’s good news for Nagpur station’s redevelopment. The tender had been awarded and today work order has also been issued. Union minister Nitin Gadkari too followed up a lot regarding this,” said Fadnavis.