Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain on Tuesday flagged-off Durg-Ferozpur-Durg Antyodaya Express train from the Raipur Railway station. The train will run weekly linking Durg, Raipur and Ferozpur.
Singh expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain .
Antyodaya Express will benefit the poor passengers. They can travel without reservation for Rs 350 from Durg to Ferozpur. The Railway authorities will be requested to have a stoppage at Batapara. The train is totally unreserved.
The Chief Minister revealed that new trains will be launched -Kolkata- Bilaspur-Pune Humsafar Express, Jabalpur-Bilaspur- Kolkata Humsafar Express-soon.
Singh said that the railway tracks being laid in the next five years will be more than the lines laid in the past hundred years. The railway stations are being given a face-lift and modernized. The cleanliness and environment prevailing at the railway stations could not have been imagined couple of years ago.
Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been focusing on catering to the need of the poor. Railways are being modernized. He added that single tracks are being converted into double tracks and multiple tracks. Escalators, foot over-bridges and other amenities are being provided for the convenience of passengers at all stations in the country.
Rapid changes had taken place during the past four years which have not taken place during the past three decades, he said.
The Railway Minister appreciated the efforts of Chhattisagrh Chief Minister Raman Singh in the fast development of the State.
MlA Sreechand Sundrani, Raipur Municipal Corporation Mayor Pramod Dubey, South-Eastern Central Railways General Manager Sunil Kumar Soin and senior officers were also present.
This apart, notably, based on the proposal of Chhattisgarh Railway Corporation limited (CRCl) , Ministry of Railways has also granted ‘in principle approval’ for new BG (Electrified) line proposed by CRCl between Kharsia- Baloda Bazar-Naya Raipur-Durg Corridor measuring approximately 266 Kms, the Central Government has informed.
This is including 11 Kms between Naya Raipur and Exhibition Ground existing line and 12 Km Pawara to Durg at total cost of Rs 4900.33 crore subject to equity of Rs 500 crore to Rs 800 crore by the JV company, it informed.
Notably, a project for new line from Raipur to Jharsuguda falling in the State of Orissa and Chhattisgarh was included in Pink Book 2013-14 subject to requisite approvals. The cost of the project based on survey was Rs 2161.37 crore.
Niti Aayog at that time did not accord ‘in principal’ approval for carrying out the project. Since project was financially not viable.
Both the State Governments Orissa and Chhattisgarh have been requested for providing land free of cost and share 50% cost of the project.
Thereafter, Chhattisgarh government came forward through the State JV Company i.e Chhattisgarh Railway Corporation limited (CRCl) has identified this project for development and prepared the Detailed Project Report.
Notably, the East West Rail Corridor project is the other project which is to facilitate movement of about 60 million tonnes of coal to various parts of the country apart from providing passenger train facility for the local populace of the region.
The length of the rail track would be 135.30 kms.The Chhattisgarh East West Railway ltd is the implementing agency for the project.