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ShareAhmedabad: Gujarat is set to become the first state to have all of its railway tracks in broad gauge. Of almost 5,000km of railway track in the state, 3,000km track has already been converted into broad gauge. The rest 2,000km stretch of railway track will be converted into broad gauge in next three years.
Announcing the development, minister of state for railways KH Muniyappa on Monday said that soon Gujarat will have all of its railway tracks on broad gauge.
The minister was in the city to review the progress of different projects of the Western Railway in Gujarat, for the first time.
Impressed with the development work of the railway projects and other infrastructure in the state, the minister said, "The remaining 2,000km of tracks will be converted into broad gauge in the coming three years."
He said that of the 2,000km, conversion of 600km railway track into broad gauge is already underway. The minister said in the railway budget 2009-10, Gujarat was allocated around Rs442.62 crore for the current financial year. The fund would be used in laying new tracks, gauge conversion and doubling of lines, and electrification.
Muniyappa also said the Gujarat government had shown interest in doubling the Gandhidham-Kandla track and a survey was being conducted for the same.
He said that the state will share 50% of the cost for doubling the track from Gandhidham to Kandla Port.
