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₹19,575 crore approved for rly projects in U.P: Vaishnaw
Rail network equivalent to that in entire Sri Lanka is being laid every year in Uttar Pradesh; 1,989-km tracks laid in the state in one year, which is the total network of the island nation, says minister
LUCKNOW Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that ₹19,575 crore has been approved for railway projects in Uttar Pradesh in the interim budget, which is 1,700 times of what it used to be between 2009 and 2014.
“A rail network equivalent to that in the entire Sri Lanka is being laid every year in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 1,989-km tracks has been laid in the state in one year, which is the total network of the island nation,” said the minister in his address to the media in Delhi, which was broadcast live in all railway zones and divisions across India.
“The figure was only 150 km earlier,” he said while drawing a comparison with the Congress regime.
Vaishnaw said an investment of over ₹9,800 crore has taken place in terms of railway infrastructure in UP, resulting in 100% electrification of tracks and 1,377 railway flyovers and bridges. “As many as 157 stations in UP are also being redeveloped as Amrit stations while 143 shops selling and promoting local handicrafts under One Station, One Product (OSOP) scheme have been set up in UP,” he informed. “More such stalls will be set up at other stations as well,” said DRM (Lucknow Division}Sachinder Mohan Sharma while talking to the media.
Talking about Ayodhya, the railway minister said provisions are being made to cater to 3.5 crore railway passengers annually in the temple town. “The infrastructure around Ayodhya is being developed to cater to such a large number. Track routes leading to Ayodhya including those from Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Lucknow are being doubled,” he said.
The minister said along with the newly developed Ayodhya Dham Junction, which is world class, other stations in Ayodhya including Katra, Ayodhya Cantt, Darshan Nagar and Salarpur are also being developed with equally modern facilities.
“The doubling of track between Barabanki and Ayodhya was done in a record time of 6 months, which was never heard in railway history,” said the DRM.
On the other hand, North-Eastern railway (NER) of Lucknow division is planning to inaugurate the revamped Gomti Nagar station in the mid of February.
Ram Ghat station of NER situated towards Mankapur from Ayodhya will also be developed. DRM Aditya Kumar said German hangars have been installed for passengers at Ram Ghat station.
