The crucial 146km broad gauge railway link between Nagpur and Chhindwara is expected to be completed during this financial year.“We have already started traffic on 34km patch between Chhindwara and Bhandarpur.

Now laying of tracks on 112km stretch is remaining. One consignment of rails for it has been loaded. The work was delayed due to non-availability of rails owing to Utkal Express tragedy in August last year in UP,” said Shobhana Bandopadhyaya, the new Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), South East Central Railway (SECR).The broad gauge link will give an additional route to move towards north-east directions.

We have also changed 20km of track for this.”Bandopadhyaya said 108km Nagpur-Nagbhid broad gauge conversion project had not been shelved. “We have already started traffic on 34km patch between Chhindwara and Bhandarpur. Decision to convert Nagpur-Nagbhid narrow gauge to broad was announced in 2013-14 railway budget at an estimated cost of Rs401 crore.

However, SECR’s is working on operating trains at 130 kmph and work on 90km section is in progress. The project was to go ahead with necessary approvals.In 2013, the state had agreed to share Rs188.11 crore of the tentative cost of Rs376.21 crore.