RailEnquiry

With new trains and flights starting to and from Chandigarh, the city became more connected with the other states this year.Within the city the situation became more chaotic due to increase in traffic and lack of an efficient public transport system. While steps have been initiated towards streamlining this, the execution is likely to take some time.A shot in the arm for the region was when the portfolio of the Railways Minister was handed over to Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal. It was after several years that the ministry was given to an MP from the north. A flurry of activity was witnessed at the Chandigarh railway Station after he took over.Proposals for the revamp of the station were mooted. From installation of escalators to extension of the overbridge, several proposals that were in the pipeline for several years witnessed some progress.Prior to Bansal’s taking over as the minister, some trains had been started to and from Chandigarh. Two trains to Mumbai were flagged off. Duronto was started between Chandigarh and Amritsar. However, after demands from people for additional stoppages, it was converted into a Superfast Express train.Proposals have been mooted for expansion of the parking lot of the station. A new road is proposed to connect to the station in order to ease out the traffic.Several new flights from the city also started. SpiceJet, Indi Go and Air Mantra launched their flights from here. The city now has several flights to Delhi and Mumbai, apart from flights to Amritsar, Leh and Bangalore among other places. The commencement of international flights from the Airport is however still awaited.The city designed for a population of five lakh people is now housing more than 10 lakh.Along with the increasing population the number of vehicles are also witnessing a rapid rise. Choked roads and traffic jams have become a common sight. The detailed project report of the Metro Project was prepared and submitted this year.While according to the report, the Metro should start operating by 2018, it is yet to get approval from the Centre. Thereafter the process would be initiated. The project is likely to be delayed.The proposal of Chandigarh Transport Undertaking to purchase additional buses had been hanging fire for some time.This year, the funds for the same were approved. As many as 98 new buses are to be purchased to replace those buses that have been condemned.The purchase would be made by the beginning of next year. In a decision taken this year, several buses of the long route were diverted to local routes.Controversies surrounded CTU with buses stalled due to lack of spare parts and tyres.