Railways Ministry will develop a world class station at Kevadiya near the site of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Narmada district, an official said here on Tuesday.
The world's tallest statue dedicated to India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October this year.
President Ram Nath Kovind will lay the foundation stone for the Kevadiya railway station, which will be located at a distance of five kms from the imposing structure, on December 15, the Western Railway (WR) official told PTI.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal will attend the event. "The plan to come up with the railway station near the statue is being implemented by the Railway Ministry after the PMO asked it to develop a state-of-the-art station with a view to increase the tourist foot fall and boost local trade", the official added. He said the Railway Board has sanctioned the work to convert 18-km Dabhoi-Chandod narrow gauge into broad gauge and extension from Chandod to Kevadia Colony by constructing a new 32-km line.
"We are carrying out works on 50-km railway tracks to facilitate this railway station which would cost around Rs 663.29 crore," said the official.