₹5,600 Crore Rail Projects Underway in Kutch; Ashwini Vaishnaw Highlights Doubling, New Lines

Kutch: Railway projects worth around ₹5,600 crore are currently underway in the Kutch region, with capacity augmentation, doubling and new rail connectivity projects aimed at strengthening freight and passenger infrastructure, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.

Speaking about railway infrastructure in Kutch, Vaishnaw highlighted capacity augmentation and doubling works on key sections connecting Samakhiali, Bhachau, Gandhidham, Adipur and Bhuj. He said the Bhuj-Naliya gauge conversion project has strengthened rail connectivity in the region, while the Naliya-Jakhau Port new broad-gauge line has also been sanctioned to further improve connectivity.

Vaishnaw was speaking after inaugurating, dedicating to the nation and laying the foundation stone for five Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) in Gujarat, aimed at strengthening the state’s freight-handling capacity and improving connectivity between regional economic centres, ports and markets across the country.

The Railway Minister also flagged off a salt-loaded freight train from Shivlakha GCT to Mithapur, marking an effort to increase the use of rail for transporting salt from Gujarat to other destinations.

Of the five GCTs, the Shivlakha terminal in Kutch was inaugurated, while the GCTs at Bhimasar in Kutch, Devaliya in Morbi and Chandisar in Banaskantha were dedicated to the nation. The foundation stone was laid for the GCT at Linch in Mahesana.

The new terminals are expected to expand rail capacity for freight movement, reduce congestion and bottlenecks at port locations, and strengthen freight connectivity between Gujarat’s ports and the northern hinterland. By linking local economic centres with national markets and ports, the terminals are also expected to support industrial, trade and business activity in the region.

Railway infrastructure in Kutch

Speaking about railway infrastructure in Kutch, Vaishnaw said that railway projects worth around ₹5,600 crore are currently underway in the Kutch region. He highlighted capacity augmentation and doubling works on important sections connecting Samakhiali, Bhachau, Gandhidham, Adipur and Bhuj. He said the Bhuj-Naliya gauge conversion project has strengthened rail connectivity in the region. He added that the Naliya-Jakhau Port new broad-gauge line has also been sanctioned, which will further improve connectivity in the region.

Speaking about railway infrastructure in the Kandla-Gandhidham industrial region, Vaishnaw said rail connectivity is being strengthened through capacity augmentation works. He said the Samakhiali-Bhachau section has already been made four-line. The Gandhidham-Adipur section has also been made four-line, while the Adipur-Bhuj single-line section is being doubled.

The Railway Minister added that the Bhuj-Naliya section has recently been converted from metre gauge to broad gauge. Vaishnaw said the railway network from Naliya towards Jakhau Port, Vayor, Luna, Hajipur and Desalpar is also being further developed.

Salt transportation gets a boost

Highlighting the importance of salt transportation, Vaishnaw said salt is an essential commodity consumed by households across the country. He noted that Gujarat, particularly Kutch, is a major salt-producing region, but transporting salt has traditionally posed several challenges.

He said conventional railway wagons meant that a significant portion of their carrying capacity was taken up by the wagon itself. Salt can also absorb moisture during transportation, causing the cargo to become wet and creating difficulties during loading and unloading.

To address these issues, the Railways has introduced a lightweight stainless-steel salt container designed specifically for salt transportation. The containers allow loading from the top and unloading from the side, making the process smoother and more efficient, Vaishnaw said.

He added that 150 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals have now been commissioned across the country, providing benefits to industries and strengthening freight connectivity.

Dedicated Freight Corridors, bullet train projects

Referring to the Dedicated Freight Corridors, Vaishnaw said the recently commissioned infrastructure would facilitate faster and more efficient movement of goods. He added that work on expanding east-west freight connectivity is also being pursued.

On the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, Vaishnaw said construction on the Vapi-Surat section is targeted for completion by December 2026, after which testing and other associated works will follow.

He also said the first coach of India’s indigenous high-speed train has been prepared and is undergoing various tests. The train is being developed as part of efforts towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and greater indigenisation of high-speed rail technology.

The event was attended by Gujarat Minister of State Trikambhai Chhanga, MPs Vinodbhai Chavda, Haribhai Patel, Rajubhai Shukla and Chandubhai Shihora, along with other officials and dignitaries.

DeshGujarat