Vadnagar to get broad gauge railway

AHMEDABAD: Come 2019, and the home town of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will gain a place on the broad gauge map of the Indian Railways. The ancient city is currently connected with a meter gauge line. The railways, along with Gujarat tourism and state government, has undertaken the renovation of Vadnagar station and gauge conversion of Mehsana-Taranga Hill meter-gauge line, which passes through Vadnagar.
The announcement came after a meeting with Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani. Lohani, along with Anil Kumar Gupta, general manager, railways, was in Ahmedabad to review ongoing projects of the Indian Railways and the arrangements for foundation-stone laying ceremony of the bullet train.
Speaking to reporters, Gupta said that the Vadnagar broad gauge conversion will be completed by March 2019. He further said that the chairman had a meeting with the chief secretary and asked for land to set up a station at Patan on Patan-Bhildi section to connect Rani-Ki-Vav. Dr J N Singh, chief secretary, Gujarat, has assured the railways of allocating the required land.
When asked about the recent train incidents, Lohani said, “I cannot comment on the recent train derailment incidents as the inquiry is ongoing. But safety has been the top priority of the railways.”
Speaking about safety, Lohani said, “All measures are taken to ensure passenger safety. Accidents have dropped in 2017-18 if the numbers are compared against overall accidents in other years. It is all about perception, and we are working to change the perception at large.”
Observing that there was a drop in traveller footfall in Ahmedabad, Lohani said it was difficult to have an entirely complaint-free railway.
“We are serving about 1.2 million meals in a day and hence some problems are bound to arise. But we are working to provide the best to the customer.”