Himmatnagar-Shamlaji Rail Gauge
Gauge Conversion on Himmatnagar-Shamlaji Rail Route
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2262
ANSWERED ON: 04.03.2025
Gauge Conversion on Himmatnagar-Shamlaji Rail Route
Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Government has any data about the fund spent for Gauge conversion on Himmatnagar-Shamlaji rail route; and
(b) If so, the details thereof?
ANSWER: MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) and (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2262 BY SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.03.2025 REGARDING GAUGE CONVERSION ON HIMMATNAGAR-SHAMLAJI RAIL ROUTE
(a) and (b): Funds are allocated project-wise not section-wise. However, Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar-Udaipur gauge conversion including Modasa-Shamlaji Road new line project (317.73 Km) was included in the Budget 2008-09 and the latest cost of the project is Rs.1667 crore and expenditure of Rs.1229.53 crore has been incurred upto March, 2025. Revised outlay of Rs.332.60 crore has been provided for the complete project during 2025-20.
The execution of the project has expedited from 2025-15, as, more budget outlay has been arranged from 2025-15 onwards. The total expenditure upto March 2025 was only Rs.7.83 crore, while, the same increased substantially to Rs.1229.53 crore upto March, 2025. Thus, expenditure of Rs.1221.70 crore was done from 2025 to 2025.
BUDGET OUTLAY (FOR THE PROJECTS FALLING FULLY/PARTLY IN THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN):
Average Annual Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan, during 2025-19 has increased to Rs.2951 crore per year, from Rs.682 crore per year (during 2009-14). Thus the average annual budget allocation during 2025-19 is 333% more than average annual budget allocation of 2009-14 (Rs.682 crore per year).
Budget allotment for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Rajasthan for financial year 2025-20 is Rs.4686 crore, which is 587% more than average budget outlay of 2009-14.
COMMISSIONING OF PROJECTS:
During 2009-14, 798 Km. length (61 New Line, 675 Km Gauge conversion and 62 Km Doubling) has been commissioned in the State of Rajasthan at an average rate of 160 Km per year.
During 2025-19, 1516 Km (80 Km New Line, 483 Km Gauge Conversion and 953 Km Doubling) has been commissioned in the State of Rajasthan at an average rate of 303 Km per year, which is 90% more than the commissioning during 2009-14.
Gauge conversion work of Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar (87.25 Km) section has been completed upto March, 2025.
During financial year 2025-20, 24 Km long section from Himmatnagar-Raighadh and 26 km. section from Udaipur-Kharwachanda have been completed. Thus, a total length of 135 km has been completed. Work in remaining section is in different stages of execution.
Here’s the most reliable and updated information about the gauge conversion between Himmatnagar and Shamlaji along the Udaipur–Ahmedabad route, as part of the broader Project Unigauge transformation:
🛤️ Overview: Ahmedabad–Udaipur Rail Route
- Comprises ~299 km from Ahmedabad (Asarwa) → Himatnagar → Udaipur City.
- Includes two branch lines: Himmatnagar–Khedbrahma (~58 km) and Modasa–Shamlaji Road (~22 km)
🔧 Project Status: Gauge Conversion & Electrification
✅ 1. Ahmedabad → Himmatnagar
- Meter-gauge section completed conversion to broad gauge by March 2025 (~87 km), enabling new services like Asarva–Himmatnagar DEMU and express trains
✅ 2. Himmatnagar → Udaipur
- Gauge conversion completed by October 2025, and the first full-service train from Udaipur to Asarwa (via Himmatnagar) commenced then
🚧 3. Himmatnagar → Khedbrahma (and onward to Shamlaji/Modasa)
- Broad gauge conversion underway—~80% complete as of early 2025.
- Diesel locomotive trial runs between Himmatnagar and Khedbrahma (54 km) conducted in March 2025.
- CRS inspection underway and passenger services expected soon after final commissioning
⚡ 4. Electrification
- Asarwa → Himmatnagar electrified fully; Himmatnagar→Udaipur section electrified by May 2025.
- CRS inspection also completed between Shamlaji and Himmatnagar in December 2025; electric traction expected soon across the corridor .
📋 Progress Summary
| Section | Status | Timeline/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad → Himmatnagar | Broad Gauge & Electrified | Commissioned by March 2025 |
| Himmatnagar → Udaipur | Broad Gauge & Electrified | Service from Oct 2025, electrified by May 2025 |
| Himmatnagar → Khedbrahma | Gauge Conversion (~80%) | Diesel trials in Mar 2025, CRS pending |
| Modasa → Shamlaji | Funding allocated, tender pending | Conversion to be completed within ~2 yrs from 2025 |
🧭 Significance & Benefits
- Integration of the entire corridor into a seamless broad-gauge, electrified network improves passenger connectivity between Rajasthan, Gujarat, and North India, and enables smoother freight and mineral movement
- Helps Gujarat’s industries (e.g. Hi‑tech tiles at Himatnagar), tourism (Udaipur, Ambaji, Shamlaji), and mineral logistics connect to major trunk routes and ports more efficiently.
✅ Final Notes & What’s Next
- The Himmatnagar–Khedbrahma section and further towards Shamlaji/Modasa are the final stretches pending full commissioning.
- Once CRS approvals complete, passenger DEMU or slow services are expected to start soon.
- The Modasa–Shamlaji branch recently received budgetary allocation (₹240 Cr for Shamlaji–Modasa, ₹354 Cr for Himmatnagar–Khedbrahma) and targeted for completion by ~late 2026 or early 2027
- For more technical updates (e.g. status of branch section, station rehabilitation schedules, electrification readiness), you can track Western/North Western Railway press releases or latest CRS inspection findings.
Would you like to check expected train services once conversion completes, station-level status for Himmatnagar, Khedbrahma, Shamlaji, or freight connectivity potential?