Prayagraj: Train passengers travelling on the busy Prayagraj-Mumbai rail route can expect smoother and more reliable journeys in the coming years, with the Railways completing a major land acquisition milestone for the ambitious Manikpur-Iradatganj third line project.The ministry of railways has issued the final gazette notification for the project, paving the way for faster execution of the proposed third line under the North Central Railway (NCR). With the notification, acquisition of 3,66,877 square metres (around 36.68 hectares) of land in Prayagraj has been completed, and ownership of the land has been transferred to Central govt, free from all legal encumbrances.Earlier, objections were invited for the acquisition of about 50.19 hectares of land spread across 25 villages in Bara and Karchhana tehsils. Following 24 rounds of measurements and consideration of objections raised by farmers and landowners, the total land requirement was revised to 36.68 hectares.The final notification has also cleared the way for payment of compensation to affected farmers and landowners.The 84-km Manikpur-Iradatganj third line project, estimated to cost around Rs 1,640 crore, has a targeted completion period of four years.The project includes the construction of 30 major railway bridges, 19 underpasses and six road overbridges. The new line will connect 12 railway stations along the route.At present, the existing double-line section between Iradatganj and Manikpur is operating at more than 150% of its capacity. Heavy congestion frequently leads to trains being held at outer signals, causing delays to both passenger and freight services.NCR chief public relations officer Shivam Sharma said the project would now gather momentum following completion of the land acquisition process.“Once completed, the additional line will enhance route capacity, reduce congestion and improve train punctuality on the crucial Prayagraj-Mumbai corridor, benefiting thousands of passengers every day,” Sharma said.
