Mathura, 2017.09.01 (Hindustan): India Rail has responded to popular requests to convert the meter-gauge rail line connecting Mathura Junction to Vrindavan station so that services can be provided from major urban centers directly to the holy city.
Station Director NP Singh told the press that the detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared and sent for approval to the North Central Railway headquarters in Allahabad. Work will be started upon approval.
The report shows that without major improvements in the streets the railway tracks cross, there will major disturbances in the city traffic system.
At present, the 12-km meter gauge rail line connects Mathura to Vrindavan, on which the railbus runs a couple of times a day. Once the line has been upgraded to broad gauge, India Rail has prepared plans for running long distance trains and several passenger trains, including one to Kolkata, which has received the most popular support.
Apart from this, a proposal for upgrading the Vrindavan railway station has also been included in the DPR, as well as expanding the stations at Shri Krishna’s birthplace and at Masani.
Since the rail line cuts through the heart of the city, it will have a major impact on vehicular traffic.
The Vrindavan railroad track passes crosses important and busy roads at Murg Phatak, Saunkh crossing, Sri Krishna Janmasthan, Govind Nagar, Masani Road, Atala Chungi and Vrindavan Parikrama Marg.
Closing gates at all these crossings to allow trains to pass will have a huge knock-on effect and substantially worsen an already difficult traffic situation throughout the city. Even now, there are already extensive traffic jams most of the time at the Janma Sthan, Saunkh Gate, Masani and Govind Nagar crossings.
Prior to making this change, the city’s traffic system will have to be considered, otherwise there is a great danger that the cure will be worse than the disease. It should perhaps be reviewed whether this is truly a necessary step.
Furthermore, bringing trains all the way to the current Vrindavan station seems unnecessary. Nowadays, most of the rooming houses and hotels are further from the center of Vrindavan, which is also extremely congested, so what will be gained if people come into the center of Vrindavan and then have to travel to the outskirts to find a room? Why not build a new station somewhere outside the Parikrama Marg boundaries, at Chaitanya Vihar?
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