Sabarmati to be developed as model station,says Rathwa

Inaugurating the renovated Sabarmati railway station,he said the ministry was actively considering its development as a model railway station,as per the scheme introduced last year that provided for one such station in every state capital.

He said the station had vast open spaces that could be used for creating the necessary infrastructure for a model station. In contrast,Kalupur is very congested and is gradually becoming difficult to access,he said. He said it has been proposed to make Palanpur a terminal point for trains from various directions.

Rathwa said discussion is underway for developing the Delhi railway station as a model station,and that the conclusions of the meetings would form the basis of developing other such stations in the country.

He said the Gujarat government keeps on complaining that the Centre is doing injustice to the state in railway projects.

“Railway Minister Lalu Prasadji had written to the state chief ministers that if they wanted to have projects implemented faster,they must bear 50 per cent cost… other states have replied,but Gujarat has not responded to this,” he said,adding,“Unless the state co-operates with the ministry,projects would take their own time.”

He said the state government is yet to respond to a railways proposal for the construction of a 14-km bridge between Khambhat and Ghogha port,which would reduce the distance between Saurashtra and Mumbai by 250 km.

The state government is still silent on 123 proposals for construction of rail overbridges and rail underbridges in Gujarat,he said.

It is due to limited availability of tracks that trains cannot be introduced beyond a limit. A fourth track alone will ease the burden,he said.

The dedicated freight corridor project will improve things and leave space for more trains,Rathwa said,adding that at present,there are three lines on which over 350 trains operate in 24 hours; 60 per cent of these are passenger trains while the rest are goods trains.

The minister flagged off a fully air-conditioned train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai today.

MP Pravin Rashtrapal said the railway should immediately stop serving north Indian food on long distance trains originating from Ahmedabad and

introduce Gujarati food. Rathwa said the suggestion will be taken with utmost seriousness.

Rashtrapal also demanded that the Sabarmati station building should be constructed in a way befitting the international significance of the place,which was Mahatma Gandhi’s base for launching the freedom movement.

A few key guests were absent at the event.

BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani did not attend the function due to other engagements. Mayor Kanaji Thakore and a local MLA were also not present.

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