The Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has promised to expedite the work on the Dungarpur-Banswara-Ratlam rail project, which aims to connect the tribal-dominated Vagad region of southern Rajasthan with Madhya Pradesh. He also said that he would ensure better rail connectivity for the Mewar and Vagad regions, which have been lagging behind in terms of railway infrastructure.
Vaishnav made these remarks while meeting a delegation from the Vagad region, led by Banswara-Dungarpur MP Kanak Mal Katara, in New Delhi on Tuesday. The delegation thanked and congratulated the Railway Minister for resuming the work on the Dungarpur-Banswara-Ratlam rail project, which had been stalled for several years due to various issues.
The delegation also apprised the Minister of the importance of the project for the socio-economic development of the Vagad region, which comprises the districts of Banswara, Dungarpur, and parts of Udaipur and Pratapgarh. They said that the project would not only provide rail connectivity to Banswara, the only district of Rajasthan without any railway line, but also boost the industry, business, and tourism potential of both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The delegation also invited the Railway Minister to visit the Vagad region and witness the progress of the project. The Minister accepted the invitation and assured the delegation of his full support and cooperation.
The Dungarpur-Banswara-Ratlam rail project is a 199-km long broad gauge line, which was sanctioned in 2008-09 at an estimated cost of Rs 1,376 crore. However, the project faced several hurdles, such as land acquisition, forest clearance, and alignment issues, which delayed its completion. The project was revived in 2020, after the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who resolved the pending issues. The project is expected to be completed by 2025, according to the latest estimates.
