The much-anticipated 51-km Pushkar-Merta rail line project, which was sanctioned in February 2024 at a cost of Rs 799.64 crore, has officially begun its land acquisition process, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on December 6.
In response to questions raised by BJP MP Rajendra Gehlot, Vaishnaw shared details about the project’s progress. He stated that the new rail line, connecting Pushkar and Merta (Katyasani), has been declared a special railway project, with the land acquisition process already initiated. This critical step is expected to pave the way for the development of the much-needed rail link in the region.
Vaishnaw emphasized that the timely completion of the railway project depends on several factors, including the swift acquisition of land by the state government, necessary forest clearances, and the deposition of the state’s cost share for cost-sharing projects. The successful execution of these tasks will play a pivotal role in determining the timeline for the rail line’s completion.