Tender worth Rs 4,930.91 crore floated for first section of Indore-Manmad rail line

The Indore-Manmad rail line project has moved towards actual construction. The Construction Organisation of Central Railway has issued an EPC e-tender worth Rs 4,930.91 crore for a key section of the project. The line has been awaited for several years, and work is now expected to pick up pace.

Indore and Malwa-Nimar form a prosperous region of west-central Madhya Pradesh, regarded as important culturally and historically. The rail line is considered especially significant for this region. Indian Railways is the world's fourth-largest rail system, and its network is expanding rapidly across the country.

Under the tender, a 72.66-km rail section from Dr Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow) to Gyaspurkhedi is proposed to be built. The estimated cost of the work is Rs 4,930.91 crore. Once the contract process is complete, the selected agency will have to finish the work in 48 months, that is, four years.

Part of the route passes through hilly terrain, so extensive structures will have to be built. The proposed works include 25 major rail bridges, several minor bridges, four road overbridges, a tunnel and an elevated rail viaduct.

Seven new railway stations are proposed on the 72.66-km route: Gyaspurkhedi, Chikatyawad, Neemgarh, Sarai Talav, Jhadi Baroda, Kelaud and Kamadpur.

Once the line is complete, rail connectivity of the Malwa-Nimar region with Maharashtra and, further on, with South India is expected to become stronger. MP Shankar Lalwani said the project would benefit farmers, traders and industries and increase employment opportunities.

The route could prove especially useful for farm produce and freight. With a direct rail network, movement of goods is expected to become faster, and the time and cost of logistics are expected to fall. For this reason, the rail project is seen as important for the economic and industrial development of Malwa-Nimar, including Indore.