- Smt. Hema Malini had taken the initiative to transform the railway line between Mathura and Vrindavan
- Railway Board had allocated approximately 450 crores to execute the project
2023.12.07 (Vrindavan Today News): The proposed railway line between Mathura and Vrindavan has become a contentious issue, halting progress amid fervent opposition from local residents. The Railway’s executive body, the Gati Shakti Unit, suspended the project following widespread objections. Notably, this venture aimed to replace the existing rail line, which originally operated a five-coach Radha Rani Express powered by coal engines during the British colonial era. Over time, the railway transitioned the train from coal-powered engines to diesel and eventually minimized the service to a single-car rail bus shuttling between Mathura and Vrindavan.
The proposal to upgrade the railway line gained traction when Smt. Hemamalini, Member of Parliament from Mathura, advocated for transforming the meter gauge into broad gauge, facilitating high-speed trains. Her efforts received approval from the Railway Ministry, initiating the process of replacing the meter gauge with broad gauge tracks and eliminating encroachments along the railway line.
After dismantling the existing railway track, the department filled the path by depositing soil thus making the level 3-5 feet high to lay the new broad guage railway track. The current plan triggered vehement opposition from the inhabitants as it would obstruct the access of light and air to the inhabitants’ houses. However, amidst this transition, inhabitants of the urban area proposed an elevated railway line on pillars or light rail project. The locals also argued that if the project is executed in current form it would only encourage the traffic congestion at the railway crossings.
Railway authorities attempted discussions with the locals to redirect the path but faced staunch resistance, especially regarding the implementation of an elevated rail system. Responding to the dissent, the MP intervened, engaging with the Railway Minister to pause the project. Subsequently, the project has remained stalled since then.
The Railway Board had allocated approximately 450 crores for the Mathura-Vrindavan railway project. Yet, due to the opposition, the endeavor had to be suspended. The projected cost for elevating the railway line escalated beyond 500 crores, causing reluctance within the Railway Board. Approvals from higher authorities, such as the Cabinet, would be necessary for such significant budgetary changes. As a result, the dream of an upgraded railway link between Mathura and Vrindavan hangs in limbo, caught between financial constraints and public dissent.
Faced with the impasse, locals found solace in an alternative route. After the dismantling of the disrupted rail tracks, the Railway’s operational body had initiated the construction of an alternate path by laying soil in place of the tracks. The affected communities have adopted these paths as convenient alternatives, easing congestion on the city’s bustling roads and alleviating traffic snarls.
The unresolved controversy surrounding the Mathura-Vrindavan rail project has left commuters and residents in anticipation, while the Railway’s operational unit remains at a standstill, unable to proceed with the planned development. As locals find respite in the alternate routes, the fate of the envisioned railway link remains uncertain, suspended between the aspirations of the populace and the financial practicalities governing the project’s execution.
