Gandhidham–Palanpur section

The Gandhidham–Palanpur section belongs to Western Railway of Kutch district of Gujarat state.

Gandhidham–Palanpur section
Overview
System	Freight
Status	Operational
Locale	Gujarat
Termini	Gandhidham Palanpur
Operation
Opened	1952
Owner	Indian Railways
Operator(s)	Western Railway
Technical
Track length	301 km (187 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad gauge
Route map KM to Marwar 301 Palanpur SH-41 to Ahmedabad SH-41 294 Chadotar 288 Chandisar 281 Rasana 273 Disa Banas River NH-14 264 Lorwada to Samdari 255 Bhildi 245 Jasali 236 Dhanakwada 229 Diyodar NH-15 Narmada main canal Mitha 212 Bhabar Kutch branch canal 198 Devgam 187 Radhanpur 179 Piplee 171 Varahi NH-15 162 Vaghpura 152 Chhansara 144 Santalpur 137 Garmedi 129 Piprala Kori Creek 119 Lakhpat NH-15 113 Adesar Bhimasar-Adesar Highway 102 Bhutakiya 90 Padampur 86 Kidiyanagar 74 Chitrod 69 Shivlanka 63 Lakadiya Aadhoi Road to Samakhiali–Maliya Miyana section Track Switch 53 Samakhiali Bg 42 Vondh 37 Bhachau Bg NH 8A 23 Chirai Bg NH 8A 14 Bhimasar Bg NH 8A NH 141 Freight Switch 3 Gandhidham Cabin to Gandhidham–Bhuj section Freight depot 0 Gandhidham Track switch to Gandhidham–Kandla Port section

History

Signature of MoU between the Government of Gujarat, Kandla Port Trust and Mundra Port for implementation of Gandhidham - Palanpur Gauge Conversion Project

The railway was financed by the Maharao Khengarji Bawa of Cutch State. 15 miles from Anjar to Kandla was opened in 1930. Another line was construction started from Kandla to Disa in 1950 with a cost of 5.5 crores. Gandhidham–Disa section was opened in 1952 by the then president Rajendra Prasad. The gauge conversion of this line was completed on 24 March 2006.[1] The Gauge conversion of Gandhidham–Palanpur section was the first long distance line conversion under SPV section.[2]

Prominence

The 301 km Gandhidham–Palanpur section connects the Gulf of Kutch with the Delhi–Ahmedabad main line. This line is providing connectivity for North India with Kandla and GAPL's Mundra ports. The distance between Delhi and the Kutch region has been reduced by 114 km.

Freight service

It is dedicated freight corridor for Western Gujarat. The Kandla and Mundra ports, local salt industry, Indian Oil Corporation's depot and Iffco's fertiliser plant at Kandla is benefited from this line for freight services. First Python goods train of Western Railway plied on this section on 12 April 2011.[3]

Doubling

The doubling and electrification of Gandhidham–Palanpur section is likely to be completed in the next five years in 2025 in the 13th five-year plan period.[4]

References

1. "RVNL's Gujarat rail line inaugurated". The Hindu Business Line. 25 March 2006.
2. "313-km Gandhidham-Palanpur rail link — Kandla, Adani ports to take stake in gauge conversion project". The Hindu Business Line. 16 December 2003.
3. "PYTHON GOODS TRAIN RUNS ON WR-Long Haul train with 90 Container Wagons rolls out of Mundra Port". 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013.
4. "Doubling of Samakhiali-Palanpur section".