Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday inaugurated the long-awaited Amalner-Beed railway line in Beed district and flagged off the inaugural train service from Beed to Ahilyanagar. The project, seen as a historic milestone for Marathwada, fulfils a decades-old demand of the region’s residents.

Speaking at the ceremony, CM Fadnavis described the launch as a “dream come true” for Beed. He paid tribute to the late Gopinathrao Munde and former MP Kesharkaku Kshirsagar, crediting their vision and relentless efforts towards realising the project.

“Today, the railway dream of Beed has been fulfilled. This is a true tribute to the late Gopinathrao Munde, who worked tirelessly for this project,” the chief minister said.

The event coincided with Marathwada Liberation Day and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, which CM Fadnavis said made the occasion “especially significant” for citizens of Beed and Marathwada.

Highlighting the financial support extended to the project, CM Fadnavis said, “After 2014, both central and state governments jointly provided funds to accelerate this railway. The Modi government allocated Rs 210 billion for Marathwada rail projects in the past decade, compared to just Rs 4.50 billion in the previous 10 years.”

He added that the arrival of rail connectivity would boost growth in Beed and the wider region. “Railways are not just about trains arriving; they bring channels of development.”

The programme was also attended by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Beed district guardian minister, and Environment Minister Pankaja Munde.

On the sidelines of the inauguration, CM Fadnavis outlined major water initiatives for Marathwada, including bringing 36 TMC of floodwater from the Krishna basin to Ujani, transferring 54 TMC from the Ulhas basin to the Godavari basin, and utilising 23 TMC already allocated to the region. He reaffirmed his resolve to end drought in Marathwada.

News source: Lokmat Times