Title - Bansal has big plans for city Railway Minister promises better rail connectivity, facelift for city

Chandigarh: Union Railway Minister and Member of Parliament from Chandigarh Pawan Kumar Bansal today promised to develop Chandigarh as an important hub for rail connectivity with important cities in the country and said the Chandigarh railway station would get a makeover. The minister got a rousing welcome at the airport from Congress workers on his maiden visit to the city after being allocated the Railways portfolio. Bansal assured that work on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link would be speeded up and a train link between Chandigarh and Delhi via Yamunanagar would be set up. Besides, work on laying a double track between Chandigarh and Ambala would also be speeded up.“As an MP, I have been pushing for fast trains between Chandigarh and Delhi,” he said, adding that general hygiene and passenger-oriented services at the Chandigarh railway station would be upgraded. Refusing to give a time frame in which the facilities would be provided at the station, he said, “There is already an improvement on platform No. 2. I will see to it that things are put in place at the station at the earliest,” he said.The Chandigarh station is among five stations selected for being developed as world-class stations. “I will look into the demand for trains to Haridwar, Thiruvananthapuram and other places of the country. I will also look into the demand for a rail link to Baddi,” he said.The minister said he would consider the demand for starting another Shatabdi Express between Chandigarh and Delhi.“Though my priority will be the overall development of all regions in the country, I will look into the pending projects concerning Chandigarh. I have earlier also taken up issues regarding Chandigarh,” he said. 

Minister's priorities
Early completion of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link Speedy work on the Chandigarh-Dapar-Ambala dual rail line Starting of a superfast train between Chandigarh and Delhi Rail link between Chandigarh and Baddi Direct train between Chandigarh and Bengaluru Another Shatabdi Express between Chandigarh and Delhi Upgrade of the Chandigarh railway station 

Ministerspeak

Pawan Bansal said he would push for the early completion of ongoing projects concerning rail connectivity of Chandigarh with other important cities. However, for new projects, the financial health of the Railways needed to be improved. Better services would come at a cost

The minister said due to populist policies, the passenger fare was never increased and only the freight of goods trains was increased. The subsidy had pushed the Railways in the red 

Rousing welcome

To welcome the Union Railway Minister, a large number of Congress workers, armed with marigold garlands and bedecked vehicles, had gathered at the arrival terminal of the airport. Soon after the Bansal's convoy reached his Sector 28 house, a large number of well-wishers thronged his house to congratulate him. Crackers were burst and sweets distributed to welcome the minister on his maiden visit to the city after taking over as the Railway Minister.