Western Railway is contributing immensely in the infrastructural development of railways in Gujarat and in last 5 years tremendous boost has been given to gauge conversion, electrification, doubling and elimination of the unmanned level crossings along with enhancement of passenger amenities.
Western Railway has once again accomplished a great feat of completing the electrification of the newly converted broad gauge line between Mahesana and Vadnagar in just 8 months. On 29th January, 2020, Shri R.K. Sharma – Commissioner of Railway Safety conducted an inspection of the work at Vadnagar station alongwith entire project.
According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the section between Mahesana and Vadnagar is part of the Mahesana – Taranga Hill Gauge Conversion project. The Gauge Conversion work of Mahesana – Vadnagar section of 34.43 km was completed and opened for traffic on 23rd July, 2019.
The electrification of this section was sanctioned by Ministry of Railways in April 2019 at a total cost of Rs. 74.66 cr. The electrification work was taken by Western Railway on war footing and the work began in month of May 2019 itself. The work was planned judiciously & milestones viz. casting of foundation, mast erection, brackt assembly, wiring & adjustments etc. were critically monitored.
With great dedication and keenness towards completion of the project, the work of electrification of Mahesana – Vadnagar section of 34.43 route km. has been completed within the record time of mere 8 months.
Shri Bhakar added that even though the Mahesana-Vadnagar section faced torrential rains during the monsoon season which held up the work for about 3 months, Western Railway was able to complete the work in record time.
Western Railway has certainly set a benchmark for other similar projects being executed by Western Railway to realize the nation’s ambitious mission of 100% electrification of railways. With the completion of the electrification work, Vadnagar which is also the birthplace of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is now connected with railway network on electric traction.
Vadnagar station is being developed as a tourist destination on heritage circuit of Vadnagar – Madhera – Patan under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. This section will now witness a socio-economic boom for the locals residing in the area by opening doors for bigger opportunities. It will bring boost to the economic, tourism and agricultural development in the areas and provide better opportunities to the people of the area.
Now that electric traction is extended up to Vadnagar, the railway is expected to introduce more reliable and energy-efficient MEMU services as well as introduce new Mail/Express trains on this route.