Railway projects pick up steam in Modi’s seat Varanasi
A “rail mania” is gripping PM Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi.
If cab driver Rajesh Yadav talks about the benefits of the ‘rail and road’ bridge that will come up on the 51 km-long under-construction Mau-Ghazipur-Tarighat line, Rambriksha (a ‘pan’ (betel leaf shop owner) waxes eloquent on the upgraded amenities for passengers at the Varanasi City, Sarnath and the Manduadih stations. Almost everybody in this ancient city has these days a rail story to tell.
Not without reason. Rail construction activities can be seen all around: A coach washing pit coming up at one location; a Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit shed at another. The Gorakhpur-based Northeastern Railway zone alone is implementing 53 projects worth ₹3,940 crore in Varanasi and Ghazipur — represented by MoS Railways Manoj Sinha.
Officials at the Varanasi-based Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) — among the oldest production units 1 have not been left untouched by the NDA government’s rail fervour. “Long pending capacity enhancement schemes are now at the take-off stage”, said VK Srivastava, the unit’s Controller of Stores.
The first lot of five “dual mode locomotives” — which has been in the making for five years — will roll out by March, while the REMMLOT will also be unveiled, said Yogesh Mohan, Chief Quality Assurance Manager.
The 4500 horsepower dual mode locos will operate under pure electric traction where possible, and use the diesel engines to extend the journeys along nonelectrified sections which would not be cost effective to electrify.