Ahmedabad, 9 November 2013

National Monument Authority(NMA) has denied clearance to lay railway track close to the world famous Ranki Vav in Patan in north Gujarat.

The broad gauge railway track planned by the Indian railways was to be located within 100 meter distance from the stepwell. Earlier there was a meter gauge track at same place. Railway authority wants to replace it with broad gauge tracks to complete a new railway route from Mehsana to Bhildi via Patan and then upto Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

After NMA’s denial to give clearance, the railway department will need to divert the route. Railway officials say that present meter gauge track is very much in railway’s land. Any kind of diversion will push railway to acquire new land. This will delay the project.