Actually it was plan of state government much before project unigauge was launched by bjp government came to power in center. The then railways didn't had any plans for this stretch as it lead to dead end unlike gondia-jabalpur link.
The state found it difficult to broaden the internal roads for increasing taffic movement(specially on VIP square) to airport and new raipur. Also there was plan to lay railway tracks in new raipur area.
So it was brain child of CG PWD to exchange lands and build express way on narrow gauge...
more... line till kendri so as to directly connect station with airport and bypass various busy squares which lead to airport and new raipur.