Free Press Journal: Indore: Friday, June 15, 2018.
The
information sought under Right to Information Act has exposed the insincerity
of state government as far as development is concerned. The current case is of
Indore-Manmad new broad gauge line, for which railway has stated that the
project could not be executed as the state government has yet to give its
consent for sharing the cost.
The 339-km
long Mhow (Indore)-Manmad project was sanctioned in railway budget of 2016-17.
The project, which will cost Rs 10,000 crore, was to be executed with
Maharashtra and Madhya sharing 50% of its cost (25% each). The rest was to be
given by railway ministry.
Later, union
shipping ministry assured to share cost of both the states. Despite this,
states had to make financial contribution to meet other expenses of the
project. A reply under RTI Act from railway department stated that the detailed
project report has been sent to Railway Board from where the approval is
awaited. It also said that land acquisition proposal is under preparation while
Madhya Pradesh government has not given consent to bear any cost.
Manoj
Marathe, chief of Indore-Manmad Rail Struggle Committee, who has criticised
state government’s attitude, said Indore-Manmad railway will reduce distance
between Indore and Mumbai by 250 kilometres, between Indore-Pune by 320 kms and
Jammu to Kanyakumari by 680 kms. The railway line will pass from Dhamnod and
Sendhwa, which are tribal areas.
Crucial
for Malwa region
The proposed
railway will help in exporting goods from Pithampur (houses three inland
container depots and one SEZ), Dewas, Ujjain and Ratlam to Jawaharlal Nehru
Port Trust in Mumbai in minimum time.
.JPG)
.JPG)
