[:en]Russian venture guaranteed to complete project within two years from completion of design preparation
Ahmedabad: In a high-level meeting held in Gandhinagar today with Chief Minister Mr. Vijaybhai Rupani, Mr. Aleksei V. Surovtsev, Consulate General of Russian Federation in Mumbai, and Mr. Vladimir Finov of Russian Government’s public venture Russian Railways RZD International, expressed a willingness to be partnered with Gujarat Government on the project for setting up semi high-speed railway project between Rajkot – Ahmedabad.
During the meeting with the Chief Minister, the Russian duo categorically stated that the Rajkot – Ahmedabad Semi High-Speed Railway project has plenty of prospects to have mutual economical and all-round growths for both regions, thus, the Russian company is eager to be partnered into it.
This Russian company has prepared DPR for 580 km long Nagpur – Sikandrabad High-Speed Railway project in India. The company has also successfully completed 625 km long High-Speed Railway Project connecting St. Petersburg with Moscow in Russia. The high-speed railway is covering this distance in just 3 hours and 15 minutes.
During the meeting, the due also assured to the Chief Minister that after the completion of DPR of this project by the Gujarat Government’s company Gujarat Railway Infrastructure Development Corporation (G-RIDE) and after making detail deliberations with Gujarat Government and Government of India on Detail Engineering Design, Project Execution and Total Finance of the project, the Russian Railway Venture would go ahead.
Once the completion of design part, the project would be completed within two years by us, the duo added.
During the fruitful deliberations held in the meeting, Mr. Rupani stated that the project would ease the traffic burden on Rajkot – Ahmedabad highways and would also be proven very vital for speedy commuting and industrial growth of the entire region.
It should be noted that the Russian venture has signed a MoU with the Railway Ministry, Government of India, for modernization of railway and its signal system. Now, the company is also eager to work with the G-RIDE company on Semi – High – Speed Railway project in Gujarat.
The Chief Minister also suggested to arrange a meeting on Friday, February 14th, between G-RIDE and Russian venture for preparing ‘working plan’ for the project.
Mr. Finov also expressed a desire to offer cooperation for increasing the railway connectivity with ports and freight corridors, and new projects for increasing speed of existing passenger railways and goods trains in Gujarat.
On this aspect, the Chief Minister responded with stating that Gujarat Government, after making deliberations with the Union Railways and Government of India, would explore the possibilities of the cooperation.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. K. Kailashnathan – Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr. M. K. Das – Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, and Industry Commissioner Mr. Rahul Gupta, and Mrs. Neelam Rani – Managing Director of iNDEXTb.[:]
