Union Minister for Road and Surface Transport; Nitin Gadkari on Saturday dedicated the newly-converted broad gauge line from Itwari to Kelwad on Nagpur-Chhindwara route to the public by flagging off Itwari Kelwad train.
Gadkari through video conferencing from the main station at Nagpur flagged off the train, which originates from Itwari. East Nagpur MLA Krishna Khopde showed green signal to the train at Itwari station.
Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said with the gauge conversion of Nagpur-Chhindwara route, the people of Chhindwara have got direct connectivity to southern part of the country. This will also open a number of opportunities of social and economic development, he opined. The new line would also benefit the local residents who were facing a number of difficulties in education and employment for want of connectivity. The gauge conversion will further provide new alternative services on Nagpur-Itarsi-New Delhi route, he said.
The train flagged off on Saturday, will pass through Koradi, Khaparkheda, Pipla, Patansawangi, Takli, Malegaon and Saoner stations where it will take brief halts and proceed for further journey.
Those present at the function at Nagpur station included Guardian Minister of Nagpur district Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLA Milind Mane, SECR; DRM Ms Shobhana Bandopadhyay, Central Railway DRM; Somesh Kumar and officials of Central Railways and SECR.
Similarly, East Nagpur MLA Krishna Khopde, ADRM; SECR Y H Rathod and other officials of SECR were present at Itwari railway station.
