State seeks better rail link for G’nagar

State roads & buildings department writes to the railway ministry demanding more trains

DILIP PATEL

Supporting the Gandhinagar residents’ crusade for better rail link, the state government has dialled the Centre seeking more trains for the state capital.
In a letter to the railway ministry, the state has sought extension of some trains up to Gandhinagar and change in route of a few of the 24 trains going via Kalol (13 km from Gandhinagar) bypassing the state capital.
Urging the Railway Board to “accept people’s demand”, the letter undersigned by the Road and Building Department secretary states that thousands of Gandhinagar residents face hardships due to lack of trains.
If the railway ministry heeds to the suggestions of the Road and Building Department, Gandhinagar residents may not have to go all the way to Ahmedabad to board Swarnajayanti Rajdhani Express or Ashram Express. Besides, Ahmedabad-Jammu Tawi Express and Ahmedabad-Muzaffarpur Express may also touch Gandhinagar.
Road and Development Secretary SS Rathore said: “We decided to send a letter to the Railway Board Chairman SS Khurana after Gandhinagar Residents’ Association delegates approached us for more trains. Besides, being a state capital, Gandhinagar deserves to have better railway connectivity.”
At present, only four trains touch Gandhinagar. Of them, two are locals — Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar MEMU and Gandhinagar-Indore passenger train. The two others are Mumbai-Delhi Express and Ahmedabad-Hardwar Express. The state capital has no rail link with Saurashtra.
The Gandhinagar Residents’ Association has been demanding more trains for the past few years. It had given a memorandum to Railway Ministry last year for better rail link.
Gandhinagar Residents’ Association president Arun Buch said: “Gandhinagar is developing fast. It houses eight universities, an army base, BSF camp and Coast Guard office. Annually, at least 50,000 people, attached to these establishments, have to travel all the way to Ahmedabad for boarding trains to their home town. Overall, 2 lakh Gandhinagar residents travel to Ahmedabad every year just to board trains.”
On an average, 800 passengers daily commute from Gandhinagar station, upgraded one-and-a-half years ago spending Rs 50 lakh. But it is being under-utilised at present due to shortage of train connectivity, said Buch.

PUT GANDHINAGAR ON TRACK: RESIDENTS

Gandhinagar Residents’ Association president Arun Buch said: “Not a single train stops at two stations near Gandhinagar — Kolwada (4 km away) and Motiadrej (7 km away). Even then, railway employees are posted there. It’s sheer misuse of manpower. They can be transferred to Gandhinagar if more trains travel through the state capital.”