Snapshot
The trains will provide direct rail connectivity between the tourist places of Udaipur and that of Kutch and add new routes for Ahmedabad and other places in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October flagged off the inaugural run of the special trains between Lunidhar-Jetalsar and Asarva-Udaipur City on the newly broad gauge converted section.
These trains will provide direct rail connectivity between the tourist places of Udaipur and that of Kutch and add new routes from Veraval and Porbandar to Pipavav port and Bhavnagar for Ahmedabad and other places in the country.
With the conversion of the 300 km long rail line from Asarva to Udaipur into broad gauge, the tribal areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan will be connected to Delhi and north India.
The conversion of this railway line to broad gauge has also made an alternate route available for Ahmedabad and Delhi. Now, direct rail connectivity has also been established between the tourist places of Kutch and Udaipur.
This will give a big boost to the tourist attractions of Kutch, Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Nathdwara. He noted that traders in the region will also get the benefit of connecting directly to big industrial centres like Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation two railway projects worth over Rs 2,900 crore at Asarva, Ahmedabad.
These projects include the Ahmedabad (Asarva)-Himmatnagar-Udaipur gauge converted line and Lunidhar-Jetalsar gauge converted line.
With a view to having a uni-gauge rail system across the country, the railways is converting the existing non-broad gauge railway lines to broad gauge.
The Ahmedabad (Asarva)-Himmatnagar-Udaipur Gauge converted line is around 300 km long. It will improve connectivity and prove beneficial for tourists, traders, manufacturing units and industries in the region.
This will in turn boost employment opportunities and help in socio-economic development of the region.
The 58 km long Lunidhar-Jetalsar gauge converted line will provide a shorter route for Pipavav Port and Bhavnagar from Veraval and Porbandar.
The project will enhance freight carrying capacity on this section, thus decongesting the busy Kanalus-Rajkot-Viramgam route.
It will now facilitate seamless connectivity to Gir sanctuary, Somnath temple, Diu and Girnar hills as well, thus boosting tourism in the region.
The Jetalsar-Lunidhar departed from Jetalsar today (31 October) at 6 pm to reach Lunidhar at 7.15 pm, on the same day.
Similarly, the Lunidhar-Jetalsar departed from Lunidhar on 31 October at 6 pm to reach Jetalsar at 7.10 pm, on the same day.
En route, these trains will halt at Jetpur, Vavdi, VadiyaDevli, Khakhariya and Kunkavav stations in both directions. The above trains consist of General Second Class coaches.
The Asarva-Udaipur City Express Special and the Udaipur City-Asarva Express Special
The Asarva-Udaipur City Express departed from Asarva on 31 October at 6 pm to reach Udaipur City at 12.05 am, the next day.
Similarly, the Udaipur City-Asarva Express will depart from Udaipur City on 31 October at 6 pm to reach Asarva at 12.20 am, the next day.
En route, the train will halt at Sardargram, Naroda, Nandol Dehegam, Talod, Prantij, Himmatnagar, Shamlaji Road, Bechhiwara, Dungarpur, Rikhabdev Road, Semari, Jay Samand Road, Zawarand Umra stations.