Ahmed Patel meets Railway Minister, seeks MEMU, railway bridge at Bharuch

New Delhi/Ahmedabad

Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Ahmed Patel today paid visit to Union Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu in Delhi to make representation regarding massive traffic disruption at Golden Bridge and Sardar Bridge that are part of the national highway connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai on Vadodara-Surat stretch. These two bridges locally saying also connect central Gujarat towns of Bharuch and Ankleshwar.

Ahmed Patel who belongs to Bharuch district urged the minister to explore the possibility of commencing MEMU train service between Bharuch-Ankleshwar as it may help dicongest highway traffic on the Golden bridge to an extent.

Ahmed Patel informed the Minister that the existing railway bridge across the Narmada, between Ankleshwar and Bharuch is several decades old. In the event of any problem, it has potential to jeopardize the Delhi-Mumbai rail traffic. Hence the government should begin work on an additional railway bridge.

During the meeting, Ahmed Patel also brought to the notice of the Minister that porters at Bharuch railway station are in pitiable condition. They don’t have uniforms and trolleys. The Minister promised to have all these issues examined at the earliest.

Full text of representation made:

I wish to bring to your notice regarding the massive disruption of traffic between Bharuch and Ankleshwar on the critical Delhi – Mumbai National Highway No 8. The traffic jam, often lasting over ten hours, is due to the frequent breakdown of the Sardar Bridge on NH8, which spans across the River Narmada connecting the industrial cities of Bharuch and Ankleshwar.

This bridge along with a narrow bridge, built 134 years back, are the only road transport connections between this corridor. Given its strategic importance, the previous central government sanctioned an additional bridge between these cities, whose construction will be completed by 2016-2017. This implies that there would be no relief to commuters till then.

Hence I propose that the Railway Ministry may explore the option of commencing local train service on the seven – kilometer stretch between Bahruch and Ankleshwar stations during the peak hours of morning and evening. Approximately 2 lakh people work in Ankleshwar’s chemical industrial estate and most of them commute between both the cities on a daily basis. A local rail link will help ease the burden on the road traffic and will provide some form of relief to the commuters.

The vital Delhi – Mumbai rail corridor is also at risk, should anything happen to the existing single railway track that exists across the Narmada between Ankleshwar and Bharuch stations.

I am forwarding a similar suggestion made by Bharuch Citizens Council, a well known NGO in the city, for your consideration. I am also enclosing a map of the local area which highlights the approximate locations of Ankleshwar Station(A), Bharuch Station(B), 134 years old Golden Bridge(C), Sardar Bridge on NH-8 (D) and the new bridge which is being constructed(E). It is imperative that the Government secure any weak linkages on the Delhi-Mumabi rail link and takes all possible steps to minimize the inconvenience that is being caused to lakhs of road commuters traveling through this crucial corridor. I urge you to have the matter examined at the earlier.

– DeshGujarat