Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday inaugurated three projects, including electrification and gauge conversion of Ahmedabad-Mehsana track and a third line between Ahmedabad and Vatva.
The Minister was in Gujarat as part of 'Vikas Parv', which is being witnessed in different parts of the country. Addressing a Press conference at Mehsana Prabhu said that Railway Ministry was planning to initiate luxury tourist train with Government of Gujarat on revenue sharing basis.
He expressed confidence that promises given in the Railway Budget would be fulfilled in coming days. The Minister claimed that as a result of different development projects initiated by his ministry, new job opportunities would be created.
"Earlier nobody was there to address people's problem. Now things have completely changed. Initiatives of Railway Ministry on cleanliness, on-line reservation services and food services are being welcomed. Railway is contributing tremendously in country's development. The ministry is keen to take fruits of development to grass-root level," said Prabhu, adding that 35 different railway related projects are in progress in Gujarat.
In coming days a dedicated Railway University would be started in Vadodara, said the Minister, adding that plans are afoot to modernise Gandhinagar and Surat Railway stations. As a result of new railway projects, journey time of people from Saurashtra region of Gujarat would be decreased considerably in Ahmedabad- Mumbai and Ahmedabad-Delhi lines. He also gave information on new railway line between Modasa to Shamalaji and projects of gauge change from Somnath to Kodinar as well as double railway track between Rajkot to Surendranagar.
According to sources the projects inaugurated by Prabhu are important as they would ease movement of trains towards the main station. Officials said that the third line between Ahmedabad and Vatva will facilitate quicker terminus management for trains. Officials said that several trains coming from Mumbai get delayed in absence of the third line as there is lot of congestion.