UPA gave more than NDA to Gujarat in railway sector:Union minister (video)

Ahmedabad, 25 September 2012

Minister of state for Railway Shri Bharatsinh Solanki today criticized Gujarat BJP for running an advertisement campaign spreading falsehoods about so called injustice to Gujarat in railway sector.

Solanki said that while in NDA rule Gujarat was allotted Rs 1974.80 crore, in UPA-1 rule the sum was Rs 2491.77 crore and in UPA-2 Rs 5156 crore till now.

Solanki said that during the five-year long NDA regime, Gujarat got 24 new trains while under UPA the state has got 61 trains in last only two years including 33 new trains.

Solanki said the survey for Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train is undergoing while a new AC double decker train connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai has been launched recently with starting fare as low as Rs 471.

“While in Gujarat, the ST bus fare on Ahmedabad-Vadodara route for local bus is Rs 45, in railway the fare is only Rs 16 for local bus. In express category the ST but ticket is available for Rs 88 while express train ticket costs Rs 33. Whether you compare monthly pass or season ticket, the railway charges 10th of the rate compare to the S.T.

Solanki said that Freight corridor work is undergoing in Gujarat. Out of total 1499 km length of DFC, 552 is in Gujarat, starting from Banaskantha’s Aval village to Valsad district’s Umargam, thus covering 12 districts and five important ports – Hazira, Dahej, Kandla, Pipavav, Mundra. The central government is going to spend Rs 16000 crore in this project.

Solanki said that between 1961 and 2011the state has witnessed increase of 2400 km broad gauge. This is matching to the length of closed narrow and meter gauge lines. Thanks to broad gauge work. the journey between Ahmedabad and Delhi which used to took 25 hours and 45 minutes earlier is now just 13 hours and 40 minute long. Similarly the journey between Ahmedabad and Mumbai used to take 9.40 hours earlier, but now it takes only 6.25 hours. Thus there has been 30% cut in the time.

The minister said that Gujarat has witnessed conversion of 2037 km meter gauge into broad gauge while 478 km conversion has been achieved in narrow gauge to broad gauge category.

On Ahmedabad-Mumbai line 500 km automatic signals are working. Modern interlocking system has been executed on all major station for increased operation and safety.