Surat: Western Railway has submitted a proposal for four lines of railway track between Dahanu to Surat. At present the works are underway between Virar and Dahanu.

Similarly, laying of third line between Surat and Udhna is also being planned. However 16 slums on the route are blocking this project. Railways is now planning to shift these slums to other place as they are blocking the plan of five km long third railway line. Pillars of over bridge can not be built unless slums are shifted.

The Gujarat High Court had in year 2017 given stay against shifting of slums, following which shifting of slums from Udhna to Kosad along railway line has not become possible.

Earlier Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) had proposed shifting of slums to Kosad based vacant affordable housing units however then Congress leader Rizwan Usmani had managed to get stay against shifting.

Railways is now planning to convince the locals for shifting and given them the option of shifting. Slum units will be shifted gradually as the works progress in phases.

Railways plans to build three railway bridges for third line between Surat and Udhna. A deadline for completion of this work will be two years.

Railway ministry had given approval to this project on 2nd August 2018, however the work couldn’t progress. Railway will first focus on shifting of two km long slum along railway track located near Millennium market.

DeshGujarat