The strategic route between Bikaner and Jaisalmer has come into action. A goods train has been started, connecting the two significant locations, passing through Phalodi. The rail route was made functional on 17 June 2007, with the financial assistance of Ministry of Defence. It is a newly constructed, 111 kilometers long broad gauge railway track. The new railway route connects Punjab and other states directly with Jaisalmer. The route will facilitate goods transport and connect Sri Ganganagar border with Jaisalmer Border.
A passenger train between Bikaner and Jaisalmer via Phalodi station of Jodhpur is also expected to begin soon.
Jaisalmer and Bikaner are two of the three main destinations in desert circuit and are of great significance to the state's tourism industry. Jaisalmer is fondly called as the "Golden City". The district has many places of tourist importance like Forts, Havelis, Palaces, besides the natural beauty of the place. Bikaner, too, has numerous fascinating forts, museums and temples that attract thousands of visitors every year. The two districts also have mushrooming industries of stone cutting and carving, khadi and minerals, along with many others like carpet, cattle feed, cement, ceramic tiles, cotton textiles, dairy products, handicraft, leather footwear, oil extraction and refinery, plaster of Paris, etc.
A Well-Connected State
The state already has a well-connected network of railway. Most of the important towns are well-connected by regular services to New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and other principal cities. The cities integrated with the national rail network include Ajmer, Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Chittaurgarh, Ganganagar, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Kota, Nagaur and Sawai Madhopur.
The Indian Railway has taken up gauge conversion project in order to remove the transport bottle-necks and to give a boost to socio-economic development. Gauge conversion from meter to broad gauge (one-third of the country-wide gauge conversion program) is underway at several parts of the state.
Important broad-gauge routes
 |
 |
Kandla Port is connected on the rail route passing through Ajmer |
|
|
Jaipur has direct broad-gauge connection to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and to the rest of the country |
|
|
Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur have already been linked on broad-gauge under this programme thereby connecting it to Bombay through Kota. |
|
|
Track renewal from Phulera-Degana-Merta-Roa-Jodhpur is also complete. |
|
|
Track from Kolayat-Lalgarh-Bikaner-Merta is also on broad-gauge. |
|
|
Jaipur is on the prestigious Delhi-Ahmedabad route. |
|
|
Alwar-Mathura route has also been converted. |
High-Speed Development
A high-speed train, moving at a speed of 300 km per hour, will soon pass through Jaipur. This train is being developed as a part of the north-west high-speed corridor. Currently, Shatabdi Express is the fastest train passing through the city, with a speed of 140 km per hour.
About 700 km of this corridor will pass through Rajasthan. Before entering Gujarat, it will pass through Alwar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Beawar, Phalna and Abu Road. Three such high-speed corridors are to be developed in the north-western, southern and eastern parts of India. The Chairman of the Railway Board, Mr. J. P. Batra said that about Rs.4 to 5 hundred million was being invested for these corridors.
|
