Barmer/Jaisalmer, Nov. 30 -- Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday announced that extensive preparations were underway to lay new railway lines in the frontier districts of Anupgarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bhildi, with the detailed project report for the initiative nearing completion. Speaking at the launch of a new train service to Shakur Basti in Delhi at Jaisalmer, Vaishnaw said that the state was currently witnessing one of the largest infrastructure pushes in its history. Railway projects worth nearly Rs.55,000 crore were underway across the state, he said, adding that these included redevelopment at 85 stations, as well as several gauge conversion and expansion projects. The railway minister added that Rajasthan's current railway allocation of almost Rs.10,000 crore served as a massive improvement to the allocation before 2014, which was only around Rs.682 crore per year on average. According to Vaishnaw, the aim is to ensure that every significant border belt in the state was seamlessly connected by rail so that the region's strategic and economic requirements could be addressed effectively. He also reviewed the ongoing redevelopment of Jaisalmer railway station and announced that the work is in its final stage, likely to be completed within a month. He expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be invited to inaugurate the revamped station once it is ready. The programme was witness to a memorable moment when the new train line, Jaisalmer- Shakur Basti- Jaisalmer, was renamed on the spot the "Swarna Nagari Express" by Vaishnaw, responding to requests by those present, led by Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Vaishnaw also confirmed that the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur railway line will be upgraded to support better connectivity. Former Union minister Kailash Choudhary took the opportunity to urge the railway minister to expedite the long-pending Jaisalmer-Bhabhar railway line project, which locals believe will bring major economic benefits to the region. It is informed that following its ceremonial launch, the Swarn Nagari Express will begin regular operations from December 1. Train number 12249 will depart daily from Shakur Basti in Delhi, leaving Jodhpur at 5.10pm and reaching Jaisalmer at 9am the next morning. The return journey, train number 12250, will start from December 2, departing Jaisalmer at 5pm every day and arriving in Shakur Basti at 9.30am the following morning....