Minister of Railways inaugurates newly constructed Gandhidham-Tuna Tekra rail line

Gandhidham is a town in Kutch district of Gujarat while Tuna-Tekra Port is a port 20 k.m. west of Kandla in Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat.

The inauguration was done from Delhi through remote control by setting-up a video-conferencing between Rail Bhawan, New Delhi and Gandhidham Railway Station.

The project has been complete under the private line/Non-Government Railway (NGR) Model of Participative Model Policy of 2012 of Ministry of Railways for undertaking rail connectivity and capacity augmentation projects. It is yet another significant initiative under PPP.

This railway-line is the first Non-Government Railway Project of Indian Railways under the NGR policy of 2012

This project has been funded by M/s Kandla Port Trust (KPT). It is the Western Railway Zone of Indian Railways which has coordinated and pioneered this important infrastructure project.

The project has been executed in two parts – 11 kms. Gandhidham- Tuna Rail line by Western Railway Zone (as deposite work) and 6 km. line between Tuna-Tekra by M/s Kandla Port Trust.

Under the participative policy of 2012, Ministry of Railways have undertaken connectivity to 4 ports namely Dhamra port, Tuna port, Jaigarh Port, Dighi port.

These four projects will generate investment of approx. Rs.2400 crore with no financial commitment to equity from Ministry of Railways. In principle clearance have been granted for another five port connectivity projects.

"These five projects will generate investment of approx. Rs.2800 crore with no financial commitment to equity from Ministry of Railwaysm," the government said in a statement.

Earlier, between 2002-2012 seven port connectivity projects were implemented. These projects have added approximately 950 km of railway line bringing an investment of approximately Rs.3000 crore.