No gauge conversion of Talala-Visavadar line

TNN | Mar 14, 2020, 04:00 ISTRajkot: The railway ministry is not planning to broad guage conversion of the Talala-Visavadar meter gauge line. The broad gauge was a part of Veraval-Talala-Visavadar conversion project, but the ministry has dropped this plan in order to protect the Asiatic lions in Gir.
This was informed by minister of railways and commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal, in Rajya Sabha on Friday. Goyal said this in response to a question from Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani who sought to know whether the gauge conversion of 72 km track between Talala and Visavadar passing through Gir wildlife areas will pose danger to the Asiatic Lions. Nathwani also wanted to know whether the government is mulling retaining the meter gauge railway line as a heritage railway line in view of its rich wildlife.

“Presently, it has been decided to retain this section as meter gauge due to forest issues as the alignment is passing through Gir reserve forest,” Goyal stated in his reply.
Railway has also reduced the speed of the train from 50km per hour to 30kmph between Talala and Veraval stations in Gir forest area so that driver can apply breaks to on seeing wild animals crossing the track. Goyal also said that the ministry is closely working with the the forest department regarding information of lion’s movement near the track.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/no-gauge-conversion-of-talala-visavadar-line/articleshow/74619235.cms