KINWAT (MAHARASHTRA): Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Wednesday said economic development of backward regions was being planned through new initiatives such as the `freight corridor.' He said two new lines would be laid along the existing tracks linking important places exclusively for goods train to run.

Inaugurating the newly converted 116-km broad gauge line between Kinwat and Mudkhed stations in Maharashtra and flagging off the Adilabad-Nanded-Adilabad passenger train on the Nanded Division of South Central Railway, the Minister said the estimated expenditure on the `freight corridor' project would be Rs. 25,000 crore. Initially, the twin track was being laid to link Ludhiana and Kolkata via Bihar and Delhi and Mumbai. In the second phase, Mumbai would be linked to Chennai and Chennai to Howrah.

Among the measures being adopted by the Railways, Mr. Prasad said railway stations across the country would be built at world standards in addition to improvement of passenger amenities. Waiting halls would be constructed outside the platform area so that relatives of passengers did not enter bogies and cause security problems. Besides, all tracks would be fenced.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar urged the Minister to sanction more broad gauge lines for the Marathwada region in Maharashtra. Among those who attended were Union Minister of State for Railway R. Velu and Union Minister of State for Rural Development Suryakanta Patil.

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