RailEnquiry

INDORE: A group of activists, including a freedom fighter, a financial analyst and others on Monday once again raised the demand for meter gauge line between Mhow-Khandwa. The activists took up the matter with the railway ministry and chairman of railway board. Once it becomes a reality, it will reduce travel time, cost and bring about overall development of the region.Vimal Jhanjri, social activist and freedom fighter, who has been fighting for better rail connectivity in the region for years, said they have taken up the matter of railway line between Mhow- Khandwa section under Ratlam-Mhow-Khandwa-Akola. He said the line would connect South to North and West to East and it would create a better inter-connectivity through rail network. Hemant Nandecha, a financial analyst, said the MG line and electrification of the 130 km long route would cost only Rs 63 crore and railway could easily recover the cost in short time. He pointed out the particular line would reduce 800 km between Jammu to Rameshwaram and it would also save major operation cost for the railway.Vimal Korea, executive secretary, Malwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the 130 km line would, after completion, if further expanded beyond Khandwa and multi-lane electrified triple lanes beyond Indore (via Ujjain-Nagda) will improve infrastructure in the backward region of western Madhya Pradesh and it would fillip to economic development.

Professor Uday Jain, economist, pointed out that line would also increase the revenue of state and cut the cost of proposed two thermal power stations being set up at the cost of Rs 14,000 crore at Khandwa and Barwah as cost of coal transportation to the power plants would come down significantly. Besides, Mhow and Neemuch will be directly linked.

He said the line would also boost tourism in Ujjain and Omkareshwar, the two holy cities. According to their assessment, the line will help remove backwardness and push industrial growth around Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor. It would also help pharmaceutical industries and automobile industries at Pithampur as these would be in a position to send their products straight to Banaglore, Hyderabad and Pune.