Railway Ministry permanently closes ₹402-cr Mathura-Vrindavan rail conversion project
New Delhi, The Railway Ministry has permanently closed its ambitious project for the conversion of the Mathura-Vrindavan railway line from metre gauge to broad gauge at an estimated cost of ₹402 crore, terming it "uneconomical".
The North Central Railway zone, which has jurisdiction over the Mathura-Virndavan section, had mooted a proposal a few months ago to terminate it permanently due to opposition from locals.
"The Proposal of North Central Railway regarding closure of the aforementioned uneconomical branch line of North Central Railway has been examined by the Board. Accordingly, Competent Authority has approved permanent closure of Mathura Vrindavan section of Agra Division of North Central Railway," the Railway Ministry said in a letter dated June 6, addressed to the General Manager of the NCR zone.
It further said the decision has been taken with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways and asked the zone to initiate necessary action.
Railway officials associated with the project said the work on the rail link between the two cities started about two years ago and a significant amount of time and money had been spent on laying of tracks from both sides, Mathura as well as Vrindavan.
A section of experts also said the cancellation of the project posed a question mark on the Railways' foresight and planning and may cause a significant financial loss.
The Railway Board had sanctioned the conversion of the metre gauge rail line between Mathura and Vrindavan to broad gauge in 2017-18 at an estimated cost of ₹402 crore.
A contract costing ₹191 crore was awarded to a company, ISC, in February 2023, following which dismantling of the existing track and the process of laying the new track was started on March 31, 2023. The contractor was supposed to finish the work in two years by March 30, 2025.
Another contract costing ₹38 crore for the construction of the station building at Krishna Janmabhoomi and Vrindavan, including platforms and foot-over bridges, was awarded to HOG Projects in May 2023.
The metre gauge track, constructed by the Britishers more than 100 years ago, was in operation with a one-coach rail bus that operated twice a day till early 2023. The service was stopped for the construction of the broad gauge.
The gauge conversion work was started from Vrindavan but local residents raised objections when the work began from the Mathura side in June 2023.
The railway officials said the locals used to cross the track easily as the metre gauge was at the ground level and the speed of the rail bus was also slow.
According to officials, the new track was supposed to be constructed on an embankment. The locals objected to it, saying they would find it inconvenient to cross the track easily as they used to do earlier.
On September 1, 2023, a meeting was held between senior officials, including those from the NCR zone, Mathura district magistrate, municipal commissioner, protesting residents and their representatives among others.
The majority of the residents demanded the construction of a road on the railway land instead of a broad gauge rail line. JP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Tatkal tickets to be available only for Aadhaar-verified users from July 1
Booking a Tatkal ticket will now require Aadhaar authentication, as the Railway Ministry announced on Tuesday that only Aadhaar-verified users can book Tatkal tickets starting July 1, 2025, news agency PTI reported. 'With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under Tatkal scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/ its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users,' the ministry said in a circular published on June 10. Tatkal tickets, which are released just a day prior to a train's departure to cater to urgent travel needs, are frequently snapped up within seconds—often by automated bots or booking agents. According to ministry, the new rules have been made 'to ensure that the benefits of the Tatkal Scheme are received by the common end users'. The ministry said subsequently, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication shall also be made compulsory for Tatkal bookings from July 15, 2025, onwards. 'Tatkal tickets shall be available for booking through computerized PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters of Indian Railways/authorised agents only after authentication of a system-generated OTP, which shall be sent through the system on the mobile number furnished by the users at the time of booking. This shall also be implemented by 15/07/2025,' the circular further stated. Restrictions on ticketing agents According to the circular, authorised ticketing agents will no longer be allowed to book Tatkal tickets during the first half hour of the daily booking window. For air-conditioned (AC) classes, agents will be barred from making bookings between 10 am and 10.30 am, while for non-AC classes, the restriction will apply from 11 am to 11.30 am. This move is intended to give individual users a fair chance at securing tickets during the high-demand opening period. The ministry has directed the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to update the booking systems accordingly and to inform all zonal railway divisions.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Need for promoting handicrafts, handloom products: Himachal industries minister
Presiding over the 194th meeting of Board of Directors of Himachal Pradesh State Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation Ltd. on Tuesday, Himachal industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan directed the officers to prepare a promotional video of the handicrafts and handloom products of the state. The videos, aimed at promoting and reviving the handicrafts and handloom products, would be uploaded on social media and other networks. The minister appreciated the steps taken by the corporation for the benefit of artisans and weavers of the state and directed that the corporation's schemes and programmes must reach the maximum number of people. He said that training of this art, which is on the verge of extinction, should be conducted periodically throughout the state to preserve the heritage. He directed to explore the possibility of opening show-window-cum-sale counter in Chandigarh. The corporation is implementing the central-sponsored project, Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS), of ₹23.38 Crore, the duration of which is three years. During the year 2023-24 the corporation benefitted 420 artisans and distributed the improved toolkits to 340 artisans. During the year 2024-25, the corporation benefitted 840 artisans and weavers and distributed the improved toolkits to them. The renovation work of three emporia at Delhi, Dharamshala and Manali has been completed and the renovation work of three other emporia, two at Chamba and one at Shimla, is in progress.
Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Railway Ministry permanently cancels ₹402 cr Mathura-Vrindavan project
The Railway Ministry has permanently closed its ambitious project for the conversion of the Mathura-Vrindavan railway line from metre gauge to broad gauge at an estimated cost of Rs 402 crore, terming it "uneconomical". The North Central Railway (NCR) zone, which has jurisdiction over the Mathura-Virndavan section, had mooted a proposal a few months ago to terminate it permanently due to opposition from locals. "The Proposal of North Central Railway regarding closure of the aforementioned uneconomical branch line of North Central Railway has been examined by the (Railway) Board. Accordingly, Competent Authority has approved permanent closure of Mathura Vrindavan section of Agra Division of North Central Railway," the Railway Ministry said in a letter dated June 6, addressed to the General Manager of the NCR zone. It further said the decision has been taken with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways and asked the zone to initiate necessary action. Railway officials associated with the project said the work on the rail link between the two cities started about two years ago and a significant amount of time and money had been spent on laying of tracks from both sides, Mathura as well as Vrindavan. A section of experts also said the cancellation of the project posed a question mark on the Railways' foresight and planning and may cause a significant financial loss. The Railway Board had sanctioned the conversion of the metre gauge rail line between Mathura and Vrindavan to broad gauge in 2017-18 at an estimated cost of Rs 402 crore. A contract costing Rs 191 crore was awarded to a company, ISC, in February 2023, following which dismantling of the existing track and the process of laying the new track was started on March 31, 2023. The contractor was supposed to finish the work in two years by March 30, 2025. Another contract costing Rs 38 crore for the construction of the station building at Krishna Janmabhoomi and Vrindavan, including platforms and foot-over bridges, was awarded to HOG Projects in May 2023. The metre gauge track, constructed by the Britishers more than 100 years ago, was in operation with a one-coach rail bus that operated twice a day till early 2023. The service was stopped for the construction of the broad gauge. The gauge conversion work was started from Vrindavan but local residents raised objections when the work began from the Mathura side in June 2023. The railway officials said the locals used to cross the track easily as the metre gauge was at the ground level and the speed of the rail bus was also slow. According to officials, the new track was supposed to be constructed on an embankment. The locals objected to it, saying they would find it inconvenient to cross the track easily as they used to do earlier. On September 1, 2023, a meeting was held between senior officials, including those from the NCR zone, Mathura district magistrate, municipal commissioner, protesting residents and their representatives among others. The majority of the residents demanded the construction of a road on the railway land instead of a broad gauge rail line.
