Complete Railway projects before Simhastha: MP urges Railway

Simhashta will be hosted by temple town of Ujjain in 2016, where state government has invested an approximate amount of Rs 1,200 cr in necessary infrastructure

The Madhya Pradesh government has urged the Railway ministry to complete pending rail projects ahead of the forthcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mahaparva (the annual bathing festival celebrated in a cycle of 12 years) in 2016.

Simhastha will be hosted by temple town of Ujjain in 2016, where the state government has invested an approximate amount of Rs 1,200 crore for necessary infrastructure like bridges and roads.

"Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged Railway minister Suresh Prabhu to ensure completion of Khandwa-Mhow rail line. Ratlam-Indore-Khandwa-Mhow is an important section for pilgrims who will flock in to Ujjain for the occasion . Similarly, Chintaman-Fatehabad section also needs to be completed soon as it is a gateway to those who will come to Ujjain from the western region," said a senior government official.

The 27-kilometre section is closed for gauge conversion. "The Railway minister has been urged to open the section as gauge conversion work may be postponed post-Simhastha," the official said.

Additionally, section of Bundelkhand region like Lalitpur-Singrauli link and Jabalpur-Gondia link gauge conversion are equally important and needs to be completed soon. It is also learnt that Chouhan has urged the Railway minister to ensure railway connectivity to a multi-logistics hub at Pawarkheda near Itarsi railway junction. The hub, which is important for transportation of goods, is awaiting railway nod.

"The Railway minister has assured expedition of the projects," the official said.