28.4.15

Regional Rail Connectivity


For the first time in the history of mass transit in the country, the integration of a rail system operated by Indian Railways with a state-owned Metro rail network will be effected.
Once implemented, the integration will result in significant savings for both the state and Union governments. The ministry of railways has given the in-principle approval for the integration. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been formed, making Indian Railways and the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) partners.
This will mean that citizens on a singe ticket coming from areas like Gandhinagar, Sanand, Viramgam, Dholka, Dhandhuka, Kalol, Kadi, Nadiad, Anand and Naroda, will be able to use the Metro and regional railway services.
Once operational, the network will connect and use the existing railway network.
However, the Centre has said that it may not be possible for the railways to fund the project.
However, GIDB officials said that state does not need funds from the Centre as it plans to develop the project on the PPP model. The officials said that setting up new tracks would have been costly, so the state government sent the proposal to the central government to allow the use of the existing railway tracks for the project. “This was only possible with the change of regime at the Centre,“ said a senior officer from the state government. “In September 2014, the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given the approval to use to railway land for elevated corridor connecting Vasna and Motera.“
On an average, there is time gap of around 15 minutes between two routine trains and hence the state government wants to use the free time and run one regional train.
The only expense would be incurred in laying a second track between Ahmedabad and Kalol via Gandhinagar and Asarwa and Naroda.
The state government had sent a proposal for developing a suburban railway network in Ahmedabad area which is about 53 km long, connecting the state capital with the Ahmedabad city and extending it to various towns situated on the outskirts of the city.
The total cost for the 53 km regional railway service is estimated to be around Rs.2,050 crore. The cost for the 37.76 km elevated and underground Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro service connecting Vasna and Motera (north-south corridor) and Thaltej to Vastral (east-west corridor) is estimated to be around Rs.10,773 crore.
The state government officials said that according to the proposal, the railways will lay a third track between Ahmedabad-Vatva, while they will undertake gauge conversion of the Ahmedabad-Mehsana and Ahmedabad-Botad routes. The RRS will lay a third line between Ahmedabad-Kalol and a second line from Khodiyar to Kalol via Gandhinagar and also another track on the Asarwa-Naroda route.

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