The Indian Railway Ministry has permanently cancelled the ambitious plan to convert the meter gauge rail line between Mathura and Vrindavan to broad gauge. The Mathura-Vrindavan rail project was estimated to cost around ₹402 crore, but considering it economically unviable and in view of the strong opposition from local residents, the Railways decided to close it. The project was started in the year 2017-18, with the aim of providing better and modern rail connectivity between the religiously important Mathura and Vrindavan.
This railway route was more than a hundred years old, and a rail bus service ran twice a day on it, which continued to operate till early 2023. Under the project, the meter gauge tracks were to be removed, and the new broad gauge line was to be laid on a high embankment (raised platform). The Railways believed that this change would promote tourism and facilitate the movement of devotees. However, this plan could not succeed on the ground.
A construction work contract worth about ₹191 crore on the project was awarded in February 2023, while another contract worth ₹38 crore was earmarked for the construction of station amenities. Work had begun and progressed to some extent, but protests from the local public halted it. The biggest concern of the locals was that the embankment of the broad gauge line would be very high, disrupting everyday movement. While earlier people could easily cross the tracks due to the meter gauge line, now the elevated structure would block the paths. Moreover, the area is extremely sensitive from a religious point of view, and there has always been concern about such construction work in the local environment here.
When the construction work started from the Mathura side in June 2023, the protests intensified. In view of the protests and public sentiments, a meeting was called on 1 September 2023 in which railway officials, local administration, and agitating citizens participated. In this meeting, most of the people demanded to build a road on the same land instead of the proposed railway line. The local community made it clear that they do not need a railway line, but a smooth road would be more useful.
This decision has raised many questions on the planning process of the railways. Experts say that social and practical aspects were not properly considered before starting such big projects. Cancelling the project after spending crores of rupees is not only a waste of government resources, but it also raises questions about administrative decision-making ability. This episode makes it clear that before implementing any development work, it is essential to understand and respect local public sentiments and social contexts.
It is necessary to be extra careful about the development of infrastructure in areas of religious and historical importance like Mathura and Vrindavan. The failure of this project is a lesson for the government that making and implementing plans without public dialogue and ground understanding is not practical. This decision shows that only economic benefits and technical plans are not enough for the success of a project, but it is equally important to understand the consent and lifestyle of the local community.