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Railway Board Approves Elevated Track on Anwarganj-Mandhana Route

2024-07-22

The Railway Board has given the green light for the construction of an elevated track on the Anwarganj-Mandhana rail route, part of the North Eastern Railway (NER). This project is set to ease the daily commute for approximately 40 lakh people who currently navigate 17 railway crossings between these two stations. The announcement was confirmed in a letter from the Railway Board to the General Manager of NER.

The construction, estimated to cost Rs 9.94 billion, will feature an elevated ramp starting at the Jareeb Chowki crossing and descending at Mandhana, covering a span of 15 km. Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NER, Pankaj Singh, confirmed, "The Railway Board has approved the construction of the elevated railway track. A letter has been sent to the GM of North Eastern Railway by the director of the Railway Board. The tender process will start soon."

Former Kanpur MP Satyadev Pachauri had repeatedly highlighted the need for this project in Lok Sabha, pointing out that the 15 km-long Anwarganj-Mandhana railway track, which bisects the city, leads to frequent traffic jams. Pachauri argued that removing this track would significantly benefit local residents, as the existing 17 crossings along GT Road are a major source of congestion due to the pressure from more than 50 trains.

Local residents have long awaited a solution to this issue, which they say has been neglected by successive Union governments. They have consistently demanded improvements to make travel quicker and less burdensome.