Mumbai, Feb 6 (UNI) Maharashtra Government will make a provision of Rs 691 crore to be spent in a span of three years for expediting the construction of Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded rail line and Manmad-Indore section.

The provisions will be incorporated in the state budget 2008-09 to fund 40 and 50 per cent of the total expenditure to be incurred on the Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded and Manmad-Indore railway sections respectively.

A decision was taken in today's weekly cabinet meeting to send a letter to this effect to the Railway Ministry.

Due to this, the State Government will spend Rs 279 crore (40 per cent of the total expenditure) for Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded rail line, which will improve connectivity in the interiors of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.

Similarly, for the Manmad-Indore section, the State Government will make provision of Rs 412 and will improve connectivity between North Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded section is 270 km long and is being constructed at the total cost of Rs 697 crore. Manmad-Indore section goes through Malegaon, Dhule, Shirpur, Nardana, Shendva and Moh, and is 350 km long. Out of this, 192 km passes through Maharashtra and construction of the line is expected to cost Rs 823 crore. The total cost of the project is Rs 1,501 crore.

The Railway Ministry had asked the State Government to partake 40 to 50 per cent of the total cost when it approved the proposal to construct the two lines. If the project cost increases, the state will have to share the increased cost as well.

The cabinet also decided to empower the district collectors for distribution of annual district development funds.

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