Jaipur, March 31 The Ministry of Railways has initiated work on three key railway projects in the border areas of Rajasthan, aimed at improving connectivity and boosting economic activity in the desert state, officials said.
A spokesperson for the railways said that plans are underway to strengthen the rail network in border regions, particularly in Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Barmer, by laying new railway lines.
According to North Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Amit Sudarshan, the proposed projects include the Anupgarh-Khajuwala, Jaisalmer-Barmer-Bhiladi, and Khajuwala-Jaisalmer railway lines.
He said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared for the 187-km Anupgarh-Khajuwala line, estimated to cost Rs 2,277 crore, which aims to connect the border town of Anupgarh, located near the Pakistan border, with Bikaner. The project is currently awaiting further approvals.
The proposed Jaisalmer-Barmer-Bhiladi rail line will be approximately 380 km long, while the Khajuwala-Jaisalmer line is expected to be 260 km long. Final location surveys for both these projects are currently underway, officials said.
Border districts such as Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Ganganagar are still largely dependent on road transport, and there has been a long-standing demand for improved rail connectivity in these areas.
"After the completion of these proposed projects, the railway network in these remote regions will be further strengthened. Connectivity with other parts of the state as well as the rest of the country will improve significantly," Sudarshan told