Nagpur: Work on long-pending gauge conversion of Nagpur-Nagbhid narrow gauge line will start in April as all the hurdles in way of the project have been cleared.According to Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal, managing director of Maharashtra Railway Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), the executing agency, both state government and railway ministry will clear the project this month. MRIDC is a joint venture between state government and railway ministry.The railway distance between Nagpur and Nagbhid is 106 kilometre and the cost of the project has escalated to Rs1,400 crore. After completion, it is expected to save Rs152 crore of Mahagenco annually due to reduction in transport distance of coal to the company’s power plants from the mines in Chandrapur district.Jaiswal said that standing committee of the corporation had cleared the project and funding arrangements have been made. “The tenders would be floated in February end. We have set a target of completing the work in 20 months, that is by December 2020,” he added.Not much land is required for the project. “We need only 200 hectares as track has to be straightened a bit for higher speed of broad gauge trains. We are expecting full cooperation of the state government in acquiring land,” said Jaiswal.The project was announced in the railway budget of 2013-14. At that time its cost was Rs400 crore. The state was ready to allocate Rs188 crore then. After the detailed project report (DPR) was prepared by South-Eastern Central Railway (SECR), the cost increased to Rs708 crore. This was due to additional cost of gradients, bridges, signalling, mechanical works and electrification. The latest estimate is Rs1,400 crore.In September, 2017, the state cabinet had sanctioned Rs354 crore for the project. Now, it will have to increase its contribution to Rs700 crore.

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