Indore: Final earth survey of 339 km Mhow-Manmad broad gauge rail line project may begin within a month and would be completed in six months. On the basis of this survey report, tenders would be floated for the project.
Central Railway (CR), which has given the responsibility to execute the project, has received tenders for the survey from two renowned firms of the country. The tenders are likely to be opened in next two weeks. Manoj Marathe, head of Indore-Manmad Rail Struggle Committee and petitioners of case in Indore Bench of MP High Court, inform that the CR had floated tenders for allocation of final earth survey of the section almost a month ago. The CR has set a condition for the contract winning agency that it should submit the survey report within six months.
Marathe said that survey agency would suggest location for construction of buildings for stations, railway overbridges, underbridges, small and big bridges and tunnels.
As per the project, 40 railway stations are to be constructed. Out of these stations, the agency would suggest location of buildings for 34 stations, staff quarters. Six stations – Manmad, Borvir, Mohadi, Dhulia, Nardana and Mhow – will be same as the existing ones. Of the 34 stations, there would be 12 B-category stations and 22 D-category. Maharasta would have 7 B-category and 14 D-category stations while Madhya Pradesh would have 7 D-category and 6 B-category stations.
The Rs 10,000 crore ambitious project, which would shorten the distance between Indore-Mumbai and Pune, got approval in last railway budget. Of the total cost, Rs 5000 crore each will be shared by the railway ministry and ministry of surface transport and shipping.
Local MP and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Dhule MP and minister of state for defence Dr Subhash Bhamre are constantly playing a vital role in this project.
The 339 km Mhow-Manmad rail line would be passing through Vindhyanchal ranges of MP and Western Ghat of Maharastra. Thus two tunnels each 9.5 km long at chain age 196 km to 205.5 km and 5 km long at chain age of 302 km to 307 km would be made. There will be eight important bridges, 66 big and 118 small bridges under the project. Similarly, there will be total 103 under and overbridges on the route and nine manned level-crossings.
