Surat: The railway department has started the soil testing process for converting the narrow gauge railway line from Bilimora to Waghai into a single-line broad gauge.

The Bilimora to Waghai narrow gauge railway line was started 111 years ago by the Britishers to carry timber from Ahwa Dang to Bilimora. The timber was then exported through the port. When the railway department resumed the 65-km narrow gauge train from Bilimora to Waghai after the covid-19 pandemic, the vista-dome AC coaches were added to it. The railway now plans to extend the service to Saputara after converting it into a single-line broad gauge.

The soil testing process is started at Gandevi Kasbawadi railway crossing and Anaval (Shukleshwar). The railway department will start the broad gauge conversion work besides the narrow gauge line on their land. Meanwhile, the narrow gauge railway service will continue operating. The service is likely to be extended till Saputara in the second phase. DeshGujarat