Ahmedabad, Aug 15 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway has recorded significant growth in freight operations, infrastructure, passenger services and railway safety over the past year, with Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash highlighting the division’s performance while addressing the 80th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday.
The main ceremony was held at the Divisional Railway Manager’s office premises in Ahmedabad, where Prakash unfurled the National Flag and inspected a joint parade by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Scouts and Guides before taking the salute.
Highlighting Gujarat’s railway development, Prakash said the state’s average annual railway budget had risen from around Rs 589 crore during 2009-14 to Rs 17,366 crore in 2026-27, an increase of nearly 29 times.
“Railway works worth Rs 1,28,748 crore are currently under way in Gujarat, while 87 stations are being modernised under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme with an investment of around Rs 7,000 crore,” he said.
More than 2,900 km of new railway lines have been laid in the state since 2014, and more than 4,005 km of railway routes have been electrified.
Gujarat has achieved 100 per cent railway electrification, and 1,177 road overbridges and road underbridges have been constructed.
The state currently has six pairs of Vande Bharat trains, one pair of Amrit Bharat trains and one pair of Namo Bharat Express services. “Under the Kavach safety system, 1,842 route kilometres have been sanctioned,” he said.
The Ahmedabad Division recorded its highest-ever freight loading of 51.35 million tonnes during the past year and became the eighth-highest loading division in Indian Railways for the first time.
It reported leading performance in the loading of containers, salt, automobiles, fertilisers and bentonite.
The Rs 20,667-crore Ahmedabad-Sarkhej-Dholera semi-high-speed double-line project also received Cabinet approval.
Safety and infrastructure works included the removal of 10 permanent speed restrictions, elimination of 139 level crossings, an increase in sectional speed over 136 km, completion of 30 ROB/RUB and 53 bridge works, and installation of safety fencing over 376 km.
A successful speed trial was conducted after the gauge conversion of the Himmatnagar-Khedbrahma section, while doubling works between Gandhidham-Adipur and Samakhiyali-Bhachau were completed.
Automatic signalling over 169 track kilometres and various Y-connectivity works were also commissioned. The division invested Rs 1,814 crore in passenger amenities, including lifts and escalators and a modern air-conditioned waiting hall at Ahmedabad station.
The Asarva-Udaipur Vande Bharat, Bhuj-Delhi and Sabarmati-Lalgarh daily Express services were introduced. Passenger revenue recorded the division’s best-ever performance, while ticket-checking revenue stood at Rs 31.8 crore and non-fare revenue at Rs 14.58 crore.
Prakash also highlighted innovations including Indian Railways’ first LNG-diesel dual-fuel DEMU initiative at Sabarmati, the first use of stainless-steel salt containers at Gandhidham, sensor-based monitoring of waterlogging at RUBs, sensor-based train toilet-cleaning monitoring at Kankaria depot and drone patrolling.
A 1,360-tonne portal beam for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project was also successfully launched near Maninagar using a 2,200-MT-capacity crane.
During 2025-26, the division utilised 98.45 per cent of its allocated budget and recorded net capital expenditure of more than Rs 4,386 crore. More than Rs 1,759 crore had been spent during the current financial year up to July.
The division recorded 5,413 promotions, 5,957 training programmes and 1,093 new appointments. The RPF rescued 121 children, while Operation Amanat resulted in the return of passengers’ lost belongings worth more than Rs 1.58 crore.
The Independence Day programme also featured a demonstration by the RPF Dog Squad covering security skills and the detection of explosives and narcotics.
Colourful balloons were released to mark the occasion, while the division’s cultural team presented patriotic songs and dances. Children in fancy dress also performed on patriotic themes.
A total of 59 railway employees who had performed outstanding work in different departments were presented with medals and certificates by Prakash.
The Western Railway Women Welfare Organisation, Ahmedabad, provided Rs 20,000 in financial assistance to Dharmendra Singh, Technician-I, Ahmedabad, who is suffering from cancer.
Independence Day was also observed at major stations including Sabarmati, Palanpur, Mehsana and Gandhidham, as well as at workshops and depots.
The celebrations were attended by members of the Women Welfare Organisation, Additional Divisional Railway Managers Manju Meena and Vikas Garhwal, Senior Security Commissioner Anshuman Tripathi, other divisional officers and railway employees.
As part of the celebrations, essay and painting competitions were also organised for children at the Senior Railway Institute, Kankaria, Railway Institute Old Colony, Sabarmati, and New Colony Institute, Sabarmati.
At the Senior Railway Institute, Kankaria, 39 children participated in competitions held on August 9. Seventeen winners were presented with medals, certificates and cash prizes by Prakash on Independence Day, while all 39 participants received gifts.
Around 89 children participated at the Railway Institute Old Colony, Sabarmati, where the first, second and third-place winners received prizes, and all participants were given gifts.
At the New Colony Institute, Sabarmati, 56 children participated, with winners receiving medals and certificates. While honouring the winners, Prakash encouraged the children and wished them a bright future.
The competitions were intended to encourage patriotism, creativity, writing and painting skills among children while helping them understand the national significance of Independence Day and develop an interest in social awareness.
–IANS
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