Railway line to be constructed along Nagpur-Mumbai Super Express way – Piyush Goyal

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Indian Railways and MahaMetro (Metro Railway Project Company of Maharashtra) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for linking railway line to Metro coaches on broad gage network & creating a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in Nagpur city. The MoU signing ceremony was held in Suresh Bhat Auditorium, Nagpur in the august presence of Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Coal and Finance, Corporate Affairs, Government of India, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Water Resources, Government of India. Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman Railway Board and Shri Mishra, Secretary of Urban Development Ministry, Shri D.K. Sharma, General Manager, Central Railway and others were also present on this occasion.

On the occasion a booklet titled “New Railways New Maharashtra” on Railway’s development in Maharashtra (2014- present) along with 48 constituency wise pamphlets about highlights/inputs of Railways in each constituency of Maharashtra was released by the dignitaries on Dias.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Piyush Goyal informed that the Railway Ministry is also trying to execute a plan for setting up railway line across the national highways. One such proposal is to connect Nagpur –Mumbai Super Express Way (Samriddhi Mahamarg) to Railway line connecting Nagpur-Mumbai. If such Hi speed Railway Corridor created, it will become possible to cover distance between Nagpur & Mumbai in just 5 hours. Indian Railways have allocated a record Rs.67,000 crore for development of Suburban railway network in Mumbai which is used by one third of total railway passengers in India.

Elaborating on the electrification of Railways, he said that electrification of railway will cut the cost of fuel worth Rs.12,000 crore to 15,000 crore. He also said that government is trying to enhance the efficiency of Railways without increasing the ticket fares. He informed about ‘Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of E-Vehicle ‘ (FeM Project) to be decided in Cabinet Meeting for giving boost to e-vehicle manufacturing & usage in country. He also applauded project of e-Bus operated in Nagpur city & expected it to be a pioneer in the country.

Shri Nitin Gadkari, while speaking on rising pollution in metro cities, has advocated for ‘public transport on electricity’ on this occasion. He urged people to use public transport instead of buying more vehicles. He informed the speed of air conditioned metro coaches running on broad gage line of railways will be 100 km/hr which is much more than ordinary passenger trains. This MoU signing will pave the way for towns like Bhandara, Wardha distant from Nagpur to come closer & develop them into satellite cities. He informed that a passenger who has to pay Rs.90/- for Bus fare of Nagpur- Wardha train & spend about 90 minutes of Journey time, the same journey will be covered by Metro coach in just 35 minutes with fare of only Rs.60/- .

Shri Devendra Fadnavis said that these projects will be hailed as innovatory one & will be followed by nation. He informed that, water acquired from Mines and Power plants is being used to irrigate over 10 thousands hectare land in Maharashtra. An MoU between VIDC (Vidarbha Irrigation Industrial Corporation) & WCL has been signed for mine water distribution, he informed on this occasion.

The programme was graced by local public representatives, officials of Maha Metro, NMC, Mahagenco, Indian Railways, officials of district administration & general public in large numbers.