Malgudi Express: From the pages of RK Narayan to the railway tracks of Mysore. - Vageesh

Jaipur: Being just 27.8 km long, it could be one of the shortest rail sections in the country. But once completed, the Bangadgram-Ras rail section will usher in enormous benefits to cement industry. This will provide a full rail link for cement units in Ras.Cement units in Ras in Pali district hitherto have relied on combination of rail and road link, for carting the input (coal) and also transporting their final product. The new rail line, which is likely to be in place by December 2012, will create direct rail connectivity with cement units of Ras. These cement units till now used railway connectivity till Bangadgram (nearest railway station) and were compelled to take the road route from Bangadgram to Pali.Railway Board chairman Vinay Mittal, who was recently in Jaipur, had told journalists that the new railway link was likely to be in place by December 2012.  Presently, two significant players...
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of cement industry — Ambuja Cement and Shree Cement — are having units in Ras and the new rail link could pave the way for more cement units, exploring this place in Pali district. Sources said in the want of direct rail link with Ras, many cement producers are shying away from exploiting the enormous potential for the industry situated there. Once the rail tracks are in place, things are likely to change.The rail link by lowering down transportation cost is also likely to cast a shadow on price of finished cement product. New rail track is to be financed partially by the Railways and partially by the cement units. Possession of land in Pali and Ajmer district is complete while talks are underway with government to get land with forest department for the project, which will cost `150 crore.