Mehsana: Construction work on the Abu Road–Taranga Hill–Ambaji new railway line project is progressing at a rapid pace, with earthwork, tunnel excavation, station buildings, and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) currently under construction at multiple locations. After Ambaji in Gujarat, construction of the station building has now begun at Taranga Hill as well.

Officials from the engineering department are working to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe. The 116.65-km railway line project, estimated to cost around ₹3,050 crore, includes the construction of 13 tunnels with a total length of about 13 km, of which four major tunnels are targeted for completion by March 2027. A new platform is also being constructed at Abu Road railway station as part of the project.

Amit Sudarshan, Chief Public Relations Officer, North Western Railway, Jaipur, said the Abu Road–Ambaji–Taranga Hill railway line project, estimated at about ₹3,050 crore, is progressing steadily. Land acquisition has been completed, and work on earthwork, station buildings, RUBs, and tunnels is underway, with four major tunnels targeted for completion by March 2027. Construction of the station building at Taranga Hill has also begun.

PMO Monitoring Progress Through Drone Surveys

Officials said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is closely monitoring the progress of the project. Drone photography and videography are being carried out at regular intervals to review the work, and the visuals are being sent to the PMO to ensure that construction is progressing according to schedule.

Longest Tunnel Near Ambaji, Tallest Bridge at Surpagla

Under the project, the longest tunnel, about 2,300 metres, will be constructed near the Shaktipeeth Ambaji railway station in Gujarat. The tunnels are being built using the NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method), similar to the technique used in the Udhampur–Katra railway line project.

The route will also include the tallest bridge near Surpagla village in Abu Road block, with a height of around 80 metres. The railway line will pass through Sirohi district in Rajasthan and Mehsana, Sabarkantha, and Banaskantha districts in Gujarat. In total, the route will have 15 stations, including Abu Road.

Major Station Planned at Ambaji

Among the new stations, the largest will be at Ambaji, where a multi-storey passenger rest house is also being constructed to facilitate the large number of devotees visiting the Shaktipeeth temple and other religious events in the area.

Work related to track laying, tunnel construction, and other infrastructure is currently underway in several villages in Abu Road block, including Kui, Chandravati, Siyava, Surpagla, and Deri. A base camp and temporary laboratory have also been set up in the Maliyavas area of Siyava for testing and construction purposes.

Taranga Hill, located in Gujarat’s Mehsana district in the Aravalli range, is an important Jain and Buddhist pilgrimage site, known for its 12th-century Jain temple and Jogidani cave. The new railway line will connect both Ambaji and Taranga Hill to the rail network, improving connectivity to major religious destinations. DeshGujarat