Nagpur: State govt has reaffirmed its commitment to bear 50% of cost of converting the Pulgaon-Arvi, Murtizapur-Yavatmal and Murtizapur-Achalpur railway lines from narrow gauge to broad gauge, in a renewed push to revive the long-pending railway project in Vidarbha.Replying to a question in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Thursday, transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said the govt continues to stand by its earlier decision to share half the project cost and is pursuing the matter with the Union govt and the ministry of railways for early approval and execution.The three railway sections, collectively spanning around 225 km, are part of historic Shakuntala Railway, one of India’s oldest private railway networks. Passenger services on these routes have remained suspended, leaving several towns in western Vidarbha without rail connectivity. The project has long been seen as crucial for improving transport links, boosting economic development in the region.Sarnaik informed the House that the Final Location Survey (FLS) for gauge conversion project has already been completed, removing a key technical hurdle before execution.He also said CM Devendra Fadnavis wrote to ministry of railways on June 4, 2026, reiterating Maharashtra’s willingness to contribute 50% of the project cost. State has assured Centre it is prepared to provide its financial share to strengthen rail connectivity across Vidarbha and has been maintaining continuous coordination with the railway ministry to secure early sanction.The gauge conversion proposal has witnessed repeated delays over past decade despite being included in the Railway Budget’s capital investment programme in anticipation of Maharashtra’s participation. The project had remained stalled over ownership issues involving the Central Provinces Railway Company and the absence of a formal cost-sharing arrangement.According to previous reports, Central Railway has already completed prelim technical work, including field surveys, alignment finalisation and preparation of station yard plans, while a DPR has been under preparation.
