Media Coverage | 24-02-2024
First phase of Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded rly line cleared: Admn gears up for inaugural run
Nagpur: After getting postponed twice in a month, the Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded railway project will now see the light of the day. The inaugural run of the project on the stretch between Wardha and Kalamb will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28.
The officials of the Nagpur division of Central Railway have planned to make elaborate arrangements for the much-awaited event.
The Wardha-Yavatmal-Pusad-Nanded railway project, spanning 284.65 km, will give a fillip to the development of the underdeveloped regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada.
The ground breaking ceremony of the project took place on February 11, 2009, with the then railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, the then chief minister Ashok Chavan and the then Rajya Sabha member Dr Vijay Darda in attendance. Initially estimated to cost ` 274.55 crore, the project’s cost has now escalated to around `10,000 crore.
The railways has successfully completed the construction work of stations in Deoli and Bhidi in Wardha district and Kalamb in Yavatmal district, with a total expenditure of ` 1,910 crore.
A trial run was conducted from Wardha to Deoli to Kalamb to ensure safety standards. Subsequently, the proposal to operate the train from Wardha to Kalamb was forwarded to the Railway Board. Following its approval, the inaugural ceremony was initially planned for January 12, 2024. However, the event was later postponed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi then decided to inaugurate the railway line on February 11. Unfortunately, due to the postponement of the PM’s visit to the Yavatmal district, the inauguration programme was also deferred.
Now, the PM’s visit to Yavatmal is almost final on February 28 and the officials of the Nagpur division of Central Railway have already started the preparations for the inaugural function.
Inauguration by PM to be a joyous moment, says Dr Vijay Darda
This is the dream project of the chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media Group and former member of Rajya Sabha Dr Vijay Darda. When contacted, Dr Darda said he was happy to learn that the Prime Minister will inaugurate the first phase of the railway route. This is a significant and positive development, he added.
Dr Darda has been tirelessly working to see the project through. His consistent follow-up with both the Central and the State governments has given the project the necessary momentum. As a result, the first phase of the project has now been successfully completed. Dr Darda believes that the project has the potential to bring prosperity to the farmers, unemployed youth and traders of Vidarbha and Marathwada. He also expressed his satisfaction over the progress of the project, although he mentioned that the work on the Nanded portion is progressing at a slow pace. The completion of the 38.61-km stretch from Wardha to Kalamb required an expenditure of
`1,910 crore. However, there is still 246 kms of work remaining, which will require additional funds.
With the inauguration of the first phase by PM Modi, Dr Darda is confident that the rest of the work will proceed at a faster pace, and the entire project will be completed within a year.
He also hoped that the inauguration of the project will be done by Prime Minister Modi himself.
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