Several senior officials of the railways and the GEB who held a meeting with Kumar, agreed to further strengthen communication between themselves as the most of the coal required for thermal power station was transported from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar by rail.

They expressed concern over the facts pertaining to increasing financial losses due to recent decrease in rail traffic and deliberated upon ways to prevent it.

It was, however, also categorically highlighted at the meeting that the GEB did not require more wagons for coal transportation, as they had adequate stock for the time being. This was a more appropriate step because overhauling and maintenance of several power stations in State had been undertaken in the past which had resulted in reduced consumption of coal.

Earlier, led by member of Parliament Jayaben Thakkar, a delegation of the local unit of Bharatiya Janata Party also called on Kumar and submitted a memorandum to him urging to develop and upgrade the railway station as well as rail traffic.

Mayor Bharatiben Vyas in her meeting with Kumar said that the Vishwamitri railway station needed to be developed as a satellite terminal on the lines of Maninagar at Ahmedabad so as to reduce the traffic at Vadodara station. She urged the minister to initiate a step in the context, a release said.

Earlier in the morning, Kumar was welcomed by several senior officials from different departments and public representatives here at the railway station. He was accompanied by V K Agrawal, Railway Board chairman, Shanti Narayan, member, Railway Board, (Traffic) and Vasu Devan, Finance Commissioner, according to an official release.