In order to expedite Railway projects in Gujarat, the State Government and Ministry of Railways will set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which would coordinate between the Gujarat Government and Railway authority.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that he and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel have agreed to set up a SPV for speedy implementation of Railway projects including development of Sabarmati and Surat railway stations among others.
Prabu was in Gujarat to attend 6th Foundation Day of National Academy of the Indian Railways. During his prolonged meeting with Anandiben, he also discussed Ahmedabad Metro Project. Both the leaders also talked on nearly 40 pending permissions pertaining to the Metro project. The Minister assured all possible assistance and agreed on forming ‘joint task force’ on Metro project to speed up the work.
Patel and Prabu also discussed the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and agreed on solve the issues including land acquisition. Of the total route of DMIC, 38 per cent is passing through Gujarat. Gujarat Chief Minister also suggested to connect Gujarat capital Gandhinagar with that of other States. She also emphasised for allotting new trains as conversion of many narrow gauge into broad gauge in Gujarat in the upcoming Railway Budget. Focus of discussion was on integrated transport system to give better connectivity between the Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. Not only in Gujarat, but other parts of the country, development of integrated transport system is required to curb migration from rural to urban areas, said the Railway Minister.
Meanwhile, Prabhu also informed that the feasibility report on high speed bullet trains connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad is being prepared and inputs of Maharashtra and Gujarat Governments are also considered. A company owned by Japan Government is preparing the report.
Talking about connecting port with Railway lines, he confessed that development of ports cannot be done without rail connectivity and therefore the Central Government has decided to take necessary measures and open to take support from the State Government as well as private players.