MADHYA PRADESH (Metro Rail News): Rail connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh received a boost on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a newly built rail line connecting Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh to the national railway network for the first time and he also flagged off a new MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) train service between Vadodara in Gujarat and Tanda Road in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district.
PM Modi launched the service through a video conference from Pratapnagar station in Vadodara during his day-long visit to Gujarat. The new service is aimed at strengthening rail connectivity between parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and providing easier access to train travel for residents of the region.
Additional rail projects launched alongside the MEMU service
During the programme, PM Modi also launched projects for the third and fourth railway lines between Vadodara and Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, gauge conversion of the Miyagam Karjan–Choranda–Malsar section, and doubling of the Vishwamitri–Dabhoi section. The projects span 329 km and involve an investment of more than ₹9,700 crore.
Daily MEMU Service Between Pratapnagar and Tanda Road
A railway official said a 12-coach MEMU train will run daily between Pratapnagar and Tanda Road station in Dhar district. The service will provide a direct rail connection between the two stations and improve access to rail travel for people in the area.
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Another official said residents of the district will now have easier access to train travel between Tanda Road and Pratapnagar. The official added that Dhar district has met railway connectivity for the first time since Independence.
At Tanda Road station, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur joined a large crowd of local residents to welcome the incoming train. Meanwhile, passengers on board completed their inaugural journey amid widespread celebration.
The broader 157-km rail corridor is designed to link remote and tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Beyond improving regional transit, the line is expected to stimulate local trade, generate employment, broaden educational and healthcare access, and open up new markets for regional agricultural products.
2008 project receives breakthrough
The Chhota Udaipur-Dhar rail project was originally initiated with the laying of its foundation stone in Jhabua on February 8, 2008. Exactly 18 years and seven months later, the project reached its first major operational breakthrough.
The new train service will connect Vadodara and Chhota Udaipur districts in Gujarat with Alirajpur and Dhar districts in Madhya Pradesh, creating a new transport link between the two states.
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