Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) signed a MoU with the Dighi Port Limited (DPL) to lay a rail connection from Dighi to Roha, in Maharashtra, integrating the region with DMIC. This Dighi-Roha rail connection is expected to facilitate 100 mn tons. of cargo movement across the country.

The most significant points of connectivity are supposed to be Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Beed, Nanded and Ahmednagar. This will change the entire landscape of Maharashtra.

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra complimented Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways, for guidance and momentum to the country and the state with rail connections. Port led growth will play a very important role in the overall GDP growth of the country which is largely dependent on connectivity for industrialization and overall growth.

The government is also taking significant steps for capacity enhancement of private and non-major ports through close and open interaction with officials for fruitful decisions which will lead to commercial growth. This is the 2nd MoU after Jaigad which was signed in 2014 for a 35 kms railway line connection.

The entire coastline of India is 7600 kms of which 10 per cent i.e. 760 kms is in Maharashtra alone, said Prabhu. "If Maharashtra grows by 20 per cent, India will grow by 2 per cent. The State of Maharashtra will automatically develop if the coastal areas have ports and can be connected with the rest of Maharashtra through rail road connection", he added.

"Government will not be a facilitator, but an initiator and will closely monitor the partnership models in the country. State and Central Government will make efforts toward improving port infrastructure and its growth," he further said.

The government is also planning to take up Vidharbha, Marathwada, and Uttar Maharashtra on a priority basis for railway connectivity which will help Konkan to get connected with the State, informed Prabhu. Rail connectivity promotes economic growth by linking regions which have ports with those industrialized areas which do not have port connections, this provides job opportunities and overall growth of regions including backward and coastal areas, he added.

Prabhu stated that $ 150 bn of investment is required in the rail sector. LIC and Rail infra fund are the major funding agencies. Further Rs. 8,050 crores is required for further connecting the entire country with railways as this is also the most ecologically viable mode of transport.

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