Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav visited Rajkot to attend the 'Viksit Bharat - 2024 Samvaad' program organized by the Rajkot Chamber of Commerce. During his visit, he addressed several key issues related to rail services in the region and announced plans for the new Vande Metro train, which will include a route between Rajkot and Ahmedabad.
Vaishnav assured that the concerns raised by local entrepreneurs regarding industry and railway services would be addressed promptly. He stated that the Vande Metro train is currently under construction and is expected to roll out of the factory in June-July. Following this, a testing period of two-three months will ensue, after which the train will be operational nationwide, including the Rajkot-Ahmedabad route.
The minister also highlighted the efforts to upgrade Rajkot station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, emphasizing the involvement of local residents in its design. The Rajkot Chamber of Commerce will lead efforts to gather opinions from locals within two months.
Additionally, discussions were held on integrating goods manufactured in Rajkot into the railway sector and the city's role in the semiconductor industry. The Chamber of Commerce representatives proposed enhancing train services, including daily trains to destinations like Haridwar and Mathura, and requested special stoppages at Borivali for Mumbai-bound trains to accommodate the sizable Saurashtrian population living in Mumbai.
