Title - Indore-Manmad railway project in limbo

The indecisiveness over completion of Indore-Manmad railway appears to linger on for some more time and unlikely that the benefit of this ambitious railway project of the Western Madhya Pradesh will reach the people of the region in near future.

The project is aimed at reducing the distance between North India and South India by about 250 kms, besides reducing precious travelling time.

Talking to mediaperson here on Saturday, Western Railway GM Mahesh Kumar said survey of 315 kms of rail route between Indore and Manmand, of which 165 kms fall in Maharashtra and remaining 150 kms in Madhya Pradesh, has been completed and now the ball is in the court of the Railway Board. Since the project entails huge cost, the survey report will go to the Planning Commission for budgetary approval. Putting all speculations to rest regarding opening of a new railway station near MR 10 in Indore, the Western Railway GM said due to space constraints, the proposal to have a new railway station in Indore has been put on hold, instead the Western Railway has decided to construct three new pit lines for the railway in Mhow, apart from five pit lines in Indore so as to enable running of more trains from Indore to various destinations in the country.

Conceding that he has received demands to run more new trains from Indore to other destinations, Kumar said Western Railway has sent a proposal to the Railway Board to run Indore-Patna Express which experiences heaviest rush among all trains commencing from Indore daily.

The Western Railway GM denied that a special train from Indore carrying Congress leaders and workers was introduced by the Western Railway under any political pressure from the Congress leadership in Delhi. He said Delhi special train on Saturday was in fact started by the Western Railway following directives of the Railway Board and keeping in view the long waiting list of passengers at various stations en-route Delhi. The Railway GM said the Western Railway can run special trains for other destinations as well, provided availability of routes.

Talking about expansion of various passengers facilities at Indore railway station, Kumar said the WR has planned erection of four escalators, construction of a food court, etc. at Indore railway station. Besides it has also decided to develop suburban railway stations in terms of expansion of passengers and railway facilities surrounding the holy city of Ujjain before the next Kumbh Mela.