Udaipur, August 9: Rajya Sabha MP Chunnilal Garasia raised the issue of the progress of railway projects in Udaipur through a starred question in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
Mr. Garasia sought information from the Railway Minister regarding the gauge conversion work on the Udaipur-Himmatnagar-Asarwa rail route. In response, Railway Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the gauge conversion work on the Udaipur-Himmatnagar-Asarwa rail line (299 kilometers) has been completed. The Himmatnagar-Asarwa section was commissioned in 2019, and the Udaipur-Himmatnagar section was commissioned in 2022. The first train service on the Asarwa-Himmatnagar section commenced in October 2019, and the first train on the Asarwa-Himmatnagar-Udaipur section began in October 2022. The project incurred an expenditure of ₹3,976.21 crore. Currently, five pairs of train services are operational to meet the needs of passengers on the Udaipur-Himmatnagar-Asarwa section. The electrification work on the Himmatnagar-Asarwa section has been completed, and 80% of the electrification work on the Udaipur-Himmatnagar section is finished.
Udaipur Station Undergoing Transformation Under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
The Railway Minister also informed that under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the extensive upgradation work of Udaipur City Railway Station was approved in August 2022 at a cost of ₹354.01 crore. Structural work on the station building on the eastern side has been completed, and tenders have been awarded. Structural work for the basement on the western side has also been completed. Additionally, work has commenced on the concourse area, finishing of buildings, structural work for the station building on the western side, and other operational areas.
Additional Details Provided
In response to MP Garasia’s question, Railway Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw also provided details about other railway projects in Rajasthan. As of April 1, 2024, a total of 32 rail infrastructure projects (15 new lines, 5 gauge conversions, and 12 doubling projects) covering a total length of 4,191 kilometers and costing ₹51,814 crore are at various stages of planning, approval, or execution. Of these, 1,183 kilometers have been commissioned, with an expenditure of ₹14,785 crore by March 2024. This includes 15 new line projects with a total length of 1,230 kilometers at a cost of ₹20,997 crore, of which 134 kilometers have been commissioned with an expenditure of ₹3,593 crore by March 2024. Additionally, 5 gauge conversion projects covering 1,252 kilometers at a cost of ₹8,334 crore, of which 759 kilometers have been commissioned, with an expenditure of ₹5,398 crore by March 2024. Furthermore, 12 doubling projects with a total length of 1,709 kilometers at a cost of ₹22,483 crore, of which 290 kilometers have been commissioned with an expenditure of ₹5,794 crore by March 2024.
Under the Prime Minister Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), aimed at enhancing multimodal connectivity infrastructure in various economic zones, including tourist and cultural sites, industrial clusters, ports, mines, and agricultural areas, 54 projects (23 new lines and 31 doubling projects) with a total length of 4,894 kilometers have been approved for survey work in Rajasthan over the past three years (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24) and the current fiscal year 2024-25. The Railway Minister emphasized that the approval of rail projects is a continuous and dynamic process, based on profitability, connectivity, and the need to address gaps and alternative routes.
Since 2014, there has been a substantial increase in budget allocation and corresponding commissioning for infrastructure projects. For the infrastructure projects and safety works in Rajasthan, the average annual budget allocation has increased approximately 15 times from ₹682 crore per year during 2009-14 to ₹9,959 crore per year in 2024-25. The total rail path commissioning has also more than doubled, from an average of 159 kilometers per year during 2009-14 to an average of 374 kilometers per year during 2014-24, with a total of 3,742 kilometers commissioned.
Further Demands Raised
MP Chunnilal Garasia also met with Railway Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw in person to request a survey for the remaining 20-kilometer rail route from Tintoi to Modasa via Baroda, which would connect Udaipur directly to Mumbai by rail. The Railway Minister assured that the government is considering this request. MP Garasia also discussed several other issues with the Railway Minister.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
