Saurashtra traders demand new superfast train

Trade and industry in the Saurashtra region have demanded introduction of a superfast train that connects important destinations in the region with Mumbai, in the coming Railway Budget.

Hareshbhai Vora, president of the Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "It has been our long-pending demand that the Railways should run a daily superfast train between Saurashtra stations and Mumbai. At present, due to heavy passenger traffic and unavailability of ticket, people of Saurashtra are travelling to Mumbai by road."

"Eighty buses operate services between Saurashtra and Mumbai. If a superfast train is introduced, it will make the journey convenient for the passengers," said Vora.

Saurashtra businessmen make frequent visits to Tamil Nadu for the business of kitchenware, wall clocks, ceramics and machine tools. Tamil Nadu businessmen have several clients in Saurashtra. A superfast train between Tamil Nadu and Saurashtra will be beneficial to the trade and industry, sources said.

People feel that the Western Railway has not given importance to electrification of several routes in the region. Lack of electrification hinders development of the region, sources said.

The Hapa-Howrah Express has no pantry car. A proposal for introducing a pantry car on the train is awaiting railway board's approval, said Vora. Meanwhile, in yet another public sector-private participation project, the gauge conversion of the Gandhidham-Palanpur railway line has begun.

A consortium of Mundra port, the government of Gujarat, the Kandla Port Trust (KPT) and the Indian Railways have signed a memorandum of understanding, with the objective of forming a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for construction, operation and maintenance of the 313-Km Gandhidham-Palanpur railway line.

The railways will put in 50 per cent of the funds, KPT 26 per cent, Adani Group will put in 20 per cent and the government of Gujarat four per cent in the project.