NewKerala.com

Gujarat's Rail Revolution: Rs 1.28 Lakh Crore Projects Underway

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that railway projects worth Rs 1.28 lakh crore are currently underway in Gujarat. He highlighted a record budget allocation of Rs 17,366 crore for the state this year, a massive increase from previous allocations. Key projects include the redevelopment of 87 stations under the Amrit Scheme and the upcoming operationalization of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor next year. The minister credited the progress to central government initiatives and cooperation from the state government.

Key Points: Rs 1.28 Lakh Crore Rail Projects Underway in Gujarat

  • Record Rs 17,366 cr budget allocation
  • Rs 1.28 lakh crore projects in execution
  • 87 stations being redeveloped
  • Bullet train to launch next year
2 min read

Rail projects worth Rs 1.28 lakh crore underway in Gujarat, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces record railway budget for Gujarat, with bullet train and 87 station redevelopments in progress.

Rail projects worth Rs 1.28 lakh crore underway in Gujarat, says Ashwini Vaishnaw
"A new era of transportation and connectivity has begun in the state. - Ashwini Vaishnaw"

Gandhinagar, March 1

Gujarat has been allocated Rs 17,366 crore in this year's Union Budget for railway development, marking a sharp rise from earlier years, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday.

Speaking after the inauguration of Gujarat Semiconnect Conference-2026 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Vaishnaw said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, railway infrastructure across India is undergoing rapid transformation.

"As a result of the historic decisions taken by the Central Government for the comprehensive development of railways in Gujarat, a new era of transportation and connectivity has begun in the state," he said.

Vaishnaw stated that during the UPA government between 2009 and 2014, Gujarat received Rs 589 crore annually in railway allocations.

"In comparison, the present government has allocated Rs 17,366 crore for Gujarat this year, which is a record-breaking budget," he said, adding that the manifold increase would help modernise the state's rail network and enhance passenger amenities.

He said railway projects worth Rs 1.28 lakh crore were currently under execution in Gujarat.

As part of the Amrit Station Scheme, 87 stations in the state have been selected for redevelopment as world-class facilities, of which 21 have been completed.

Work is progressing at key stations including Ahmedabad, Sabarmati, Surat, Una and Somnath.

"After redevelopment, Ahmedabad railway station will provide passengers with international-level facilities," he said.

Referring to India's first high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, Vaishnaw said the Centre was preparing to operationalise the bullet train next year.

"Once completed, travel between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will be completed in just one hour and 57 minutes at a speed of 350 kilometres per hour," he said.

He added that senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office of Japan had recently reviewed the project's progress and expressed satisfaction.

The minister further said that Prime Minister Modi had approved seven new high-speed rail routes that would connect other cities with similar services in the future.

Vaishnaw said cooperation from the state government under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had helped projects advance faster than scheduled timelines, adding that "modern railways and high-speed connectivity would strengthen transport infrastructure in the state".

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Rs 1.28 lakh crore is an unbelievable amount. While the projects sound impressive, I really hope the focus is also on safety and maintaining the existing network. The recent accidents have been worrying. Development is good, but it must be safe and sustainable.
R
Rohit P
As someone who travels frequently from Surat to Ahmedabad, the station redevelopment is much needed. Surat station is always so crowded. Hope they improve passenger amenities and cleanliness as promised. The budget increase from UPA era is stark!
S
Sarah B
The scale of investment is impressive. However, I hope this development is inclusive and benefits all sections of society, not just the major cities. What about improving connectivity to smaller towns and rural areas in Gujarat? That's equally important.
V
Vikram M
Bullet train next year? That's ambitious! Hope they stick to the timeline. Japan's involvement gives me confidence. This will boost tourism in Somnath and other places significantly. Good for the economy and job creation. 🚄
K
Karthik V
While the numbers are big, the common man's concern is ticket fares. Will the bullet train and world-class stations mean unaffordable tickets for the average Indian? Development should not price out the majority of passengers. Hope there's a plan for that.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50