RailEnquiry

NAGPUR: Though the Planning Commission is reconsidering the Rs.300-crore third railway line project between Nagpur and Wardha, the Nagpur Central Railway has opposed any such move.

Plan panel officials, on the basis of maps, were reconsidering the third line for Rs.400-crore Nagpur-Nagbhid (106km) broad gauge project under South East Central Railway (SECR). It has been given green signal in the 2013 railway budget. The execution of project will facilitate transportation of thermal coal from nearest coal mines.

When asked, Divisional Railway Manager, Nagpur Division Brijesh Dixit said, “The third line is very much needed and we have sent our views to the Planning Commission. Railways have already allocated Rs 10-crore for the project.”

Sources said Central Railway’s 65% traffic is to east-west direction while 35% is to north-south. Plan panel thinks if broadening of Nagpur-Nagbhid line would ease east-west traffic, why spend Rs 300 crore on a new line.

“Even in this situation, we need an additional line between Wardha and Nagpur to ease congestion from Howrah to Mumbai,” said Dixit.