On Wednesday, the Union approved doubling of the 141-km Dwarka-Kanalus rail line in Gujarat where they will be building a third and fourth lines between Badlapur and Karjat (32 km) in Mumbai metropolitan region.
A Push In Improving Connectivity On Routes Having High Passenger Footfall
The recently approved plan for the construction of a double-track railway line between Kanalus and Dwarka in Gujarat is expected to significantly enhance the connectivity for both pilgrims and industries in the Saurashtra region.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This is going to be two line-expansion projects which is worth Rs 2,781 crore which is a part of Indian Railways’ push to improve connectivity on routes with high passenger footfall.
Besides this, the upcoming Devbhumi Dwarka (Okha)-Kanalus rail line will be a great help in improving the connectivity to the Dwarkadhish temple which is a key pilgrimage site and attracts transportation of commodities such as coal, salt, container, and cement.
Coming to Okha, it is a coastal town in Dwarka and Kanalus railway station is in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district.
Indian Railways Expecting Additional Freight Traffic
After this doubling of the railway line, it will help in increasing the transportation of edible salt with overall additional freight traffic of 11 million ton per annum.
This newly developed line will have 7 major bridges and 143 minor bridges which will involve a total expenditure of Rs 1,457 crore.
The newly approved Badlapur-Karjat line is part of 88-km Kalyan Lonavala and it is going to be a crucial link of the Mumbai suburban network.
This expansion will further help the commuters between Pune to Mumbai as this railway line traverses through Thane and Raigad districts of Maharashtra.
Moving ahead, this line traverses through the 1,238-km Mumbai-Chennai via Pune-Solapur-Guntakal-Arrakonam high-density network.
The 32-km railway line will be accompanying eight major bridges, 106 minor bridges and will involve a total expenditure of Rs 1,324 crore.
Out of the total expenditure, 50 per cent will be spent by the Maharashtra government.
With this initiative of expansion of this line, the center is expecting to increase the freight movement by 7.2 million tonnes per annum.
