Western Railway completes Samakhiali-Bhachau rail quadrupling project in Gujarat
Ahmedabad, Aug 6
Western Railway has completed the quadrupling of the Samakhiali-Bhachau rail section in Gujarat, a key infrastructure project expected to strengthen freight movement between the Kutch region and the ports of Kandla and Mundra while increasing capacity for passenger train operations.
The newly constructed section has undergone inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), with train services on the new lines expected to begin after statutory approval.
Senior railway officials, along with a team led by E. Srinivas, Commissioner of Railway Safety for the Western Circle, carried out a detailed inspection of the newly built rail stretch of around 17 kilometres.
The CRS will submit an inspection report to the Railways, following which approval for the commencement of passenger and freight train operations will be granted.
The project involved the development of 32.90 kilometres of new railway line, comprising a 16.398-kilometre down line and a 16.502-kilometre up line.
Western Railway said track laying and linking work across the entire stretch has been completed.
Construction of the project included approximately 6.25 lakh cubic metres of earthwork, 1.27 lakh cubic metres of blanketing and 96,000 cubic metres of ballast laying.
To support heavy rail traffic, engineers also constructed four major bridges and 25 minor bridges along the section.
Railway infrastructure at Samakhiali, Vondh and Bhachau stations has also been expanded as part of the project.
The Samakhiali-Bhachau section is one of the most important rail corridors in western India, linking the industrial areas of Kutch and Gujarat's Kandla and Mundra ports with the national railway network.
The route is extensively used to transport freight from Bhuj, Gandhidham, Vayor, and surrounding areas.
Commissioner of Railway Safety, E. Srinivas, said the inspection was carried out as part of the statutory safety clearance process before the section is opened for traffic.
Pradeep Gupta, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Western Railway, Ahmedabad, said the project would enhance the corridor's capacity and support growing freight traffic. In contrast, Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash said the upgraded infrastructure would improve operational efficiency on the route.
According to Western Railway, the quadrupling project will strengthen rail connectivity across the Kutch region and increase the railway's freight handling capacity and operational efficiency.
Once commissioned, it is expected to facilitate faster movement of containers, petroleum products, fertilisers, foodgrains, salt and other commodities from Kandla and Mundra ports. In contrast, lower logistics costs are expected to benefit industries, trade and exports in the region.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally! As someone who frequently travels between Bhuj and Ahmedabad, this should improve punctuality of passenger trains too. Right now, freight trains get priority on the single line, and passengers often face delays. Hoping this brings relief to daily commuters!
Good to see infrastructure development in Gujarat. However, I hope the Railways also focuses on modern amenities at these stations. In many rural stations, basic facilities like clean washrooms and waiting rooms are still lacking. Infrastructure is not just about tracks!
This is going to be a game-changer for the salt industry in Kutch. The logistics cost from the salt pans to ports will reduce significantly. Also, petroleum products from the refineries in the region will move faster. Thumbs up to Western Railway! 👍
Let's hope this actually translates into faster goods movement. We've seen many infrastructure announcements before, but the implementation speed sometimes leaves much to be desired. Anyway, this is positive news for the region's economy. 🇮🇳
This is what development looks like! 4 major bridges, 25 minor bridges, 96,000 cubic metres of ballast – the engineering effort is commendable. This will boost Gujarat's position as a logistics hub. Let's hope this leads to reduced travel time for passenger trains as well.
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