RailEnquiry

The Union Minister for Railways Pawan Kumar Bansal Sunday said the railway line between Chandigarh and Dappar will be made a double track for which Rs 199 crore has been sanctioned. Once the double track is complete, the frequency of trains between Chandigarh and Delhi will be increased. Bansal informed this while addressing a gathering of Federation of Sectors Welfare Association Chandigarh (FOSWAC).Bansal said that the work for double tracking of the Chandigarh-Ambala section will be completed by December this year. The work has been pending for a long time. Another long pending project, that of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link, is likely to be completed by March 31. Bansal said that the ban on mining was slowing the process as sand was not readily available. He added that engine trial of the track would be completed by March end.Bansal said that attempts are being made to start the third Shatabdi between Chandigarh and Delhi by January 14. Half the coaches of the train have been made available and wait is on for the remaining. Thereafter the third Shatabdi would be flagged off which has been a long pending demand of the people.Another train between Chandigarh and Amritsar is also on the cards which will start from Chandigarh in the morning and return in the evening. At present the train that is plying leaves arrives in the city in the morning from Amritsar and departs from Chandigarh in the evening. The city residents had been demanding a parallel train which is likely to be started soon.The train between Sriganganagar and Nanded Sahib is likely to get a stoppage in Chandigarh. Bansal also highlighted steps to be taken for upgradation of the Chandigarh Railway Station including installation of escalators and improvement in conditions at the platforms.