Rajkot-Veraval rail line to go on stream on Monday

Union railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav will inaugurate the broad gauge railway line between Rajkot and Veraval on Monday.

The railway line will link up all the pilgrimage places in the country. It is also expected to become a medium of speedy transportation of goods for the industries of Saurashtra. The 185-km line railway line from Rajkot to Veraval has been completed at a cost of Rs 222 crore. There were 12 trains running on the meter gauge line earlier.

According to A K Pande, divisional commercial manager, western railway, Rajkot, the demand for the con version of the railway line into a broad gauge line has come to a fact now.

Initially two local trains will run between Veraval and Rajkot and the Ahmedabad-Junagadh inter-city train will be extended to Veraval. Most of the long distance trains connecting Secundrabad and Bhopal will have a stage wise extension to Veraval.

The passengers of the new track will have the advantage of direct rail journey from Veraval to Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Secundrabad and almost all the big city of the country.

"Further, an extension of railway line from Veraval to Somnath is underway and within a short period of time, it will be completed for the tourist," Pande added.