Title - City finally gets a direct train to Shirdi

Chandigarh:
After a long wait, the city resident finally got a direct train from Chandigarh to Sai Nagar, Shirdi. MP Pawan Kumar Bansal flagged off Kalka-Shirdi train from the Chandigarh Railway station here today. The bi-weekly superfast train was approved in the last railway budget.On its outward journey, it will depart every Thursday and Sunday at 7:40 pm and will reach Sai Nagar, Shirdi, on Friday and Monday at 10:15 pm having stoppages at Ambala Cantt, Panipat, New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mathura, Agra Cantt, Gwalior, Bhopal, Bhusawal and Manmad.On its return journey from Sai Nagar Shirdi weekly train, it will depart every Tuesday and Saturday at 10 am from Shirdi and will reach Chandigarh on Wednesday and Sunday at about 12 noon having stoppages at Manmad, Bhuswal, Bhopal, Gwalior, Agra Cantt, Mathura, Hazrat Nizamuddin, New Delhi, Panipat and Ambala Cantt.The president of Sirdi Sai Samaj, Chandigarh, Rajesh Kalia, welcomed the move but said that quota of seats from Chandigarh was not adequate. He said that Kalka-Shirdi train had just 85 seats for the Chandigarh station. Running twice a week, maximum 170 residents could travel every week. The quota however needs to be increased to at least 150 seats per train since at least 500-600 pilgrims travel to Shirdi from Chandigarh.

The train comprises of total 13 coaches having the composition of 2-Tier AC (01 coach), 3-Tier AC (01 coach), sleeper (03 coaches) and unreserved (06 coaches) and SLR's (02 coaches).