Indian Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav promised to mention Dwarka-Diu coastal railway line in next Railway Budget. Lalu was in Somnath to inaugurate new Somnath railway station and 5 km broad guage rail line from Veraval to Somnath. Local people present at the venue seemed happy with Lalu’s coastal railway announcement but at the same time people were upset too because Lalu did not announce any new train from newly built Somnath railway station. He just flagged off old existing train Veraval-Jabalpur express, extended to Somnath.

Veravl-Somnath broad guage line is part of the Rajkot-Somnath broad gauge line project which was started in year 2003 by then BJP lead government at the centre. Work of Rajkot-Somnath broad gauge completed in year 2003 while Junagadh-Veraval broad gauge line was completed in the last month of year 2004.

After darshan at Somnath jyotirlinga temple and inaugurations, Lalu with his family went to Sasan Gir Asiatic Lion century in super-luxurious MR train. Earlier Lalu also visited Nageshwar, Bet Dwarka and Dwarka. He announced a new railway station for Dwarka, structure of which would be resembling Dwarkadhish temple’s look.