Ashok Chavan urges Centre to approve Nanded–Latur rail line, calls it key ‘missing link’

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Chavan on Monday urged the Centre to approve the proposed Nanded–Latur railway line, describing it as a crucial "missing rail link" between Vidarbha, Marathwada and western Maharashtra. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Chavan said the proposed direct rail line was not merely a project linking two districts but an important corridor that would connect three regions of the state."Nanded and Latur are major agricultural and trade centres in Marathwada. But there is still no direct railway link between the two cities," Chavan said.The former Maharashtra chief minister said trains currently took a circuitous route of about 212km, requiring nearly six hours to travel between the two cities, while the road distance is around 144km. The proposed 104km direct rail line would cut the travel time to nearly an hour and fifteen minutes.Highlighting the wider significance of the project, Chavan said the completion of the link would reduce the rail distance between Nagpur and Miraj from 991km to 807km — a reduction of around 184km. "This will directly benefit passengers travelling from Vidarbha and neighbouring states, such as Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, towards the western coastline," he said.Chavan said the Maharashtra government had agreed to bear 50% of the project cost. He said the final location survey had been completed and the proposal was currently pending with the Union railway ministry. He urged the Centre to grant early approval to it to accelerate the regional connectivity and economic development.