Title - Ludhiana-Delhi Shatabdi to run seven days a week

The bi-weekly Shatabdi train between Ludhiana and Delhi will run seven days a week, Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said in Rohtak on Sunday.

The express train will also have a stoppage at Jind in Haryana, the Union minister told reporters.

Mr. Kharge was in Rohtak to lay foundation for the Rs. 181 crore Rohtak Railway bypass line.

The bypass will replace the old Rohtak-Gohana rail track starting from the railway station upto Makrauli Kalan village in the district, and ease traffic jams in the city.

The minister said that with the shifting of this line, a third Rohtak-Samargopalpur line will be available — which will facilitate a straight route to Panipat.

“This will help the development of Rohtak city, because the earlier Rohtak-Makrauli line will be eliminated,” Mr. Kharge said.

He appreciated the progress made by Haryana, adding that the state was producing sufficient foodgrains and “adequate railway networks were required for its transport.”

He also thanked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for entrusting him with the responsibility of Railway ministry, and said that efforts were being made to improve the facilities for commuters.

Road minister Oscar Fernandes, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajya Sabha MP Shadilal Batra, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, and Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar were also present at the occasion.

Mr. Hooda said, “In 1957, the Rohtak-Panipat railway line was provided with the efforts of his father late Ranbir Singh, and at that time Mr. Hanumantaya was the Railway Minister“.

“34 years back, the Rohtak-Bhiwani railway line was constructed when Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister, and after that, no other rail project was considered for Haryana,” the Chief Minister said.

“The Rohtak-Jhajjar-Rewari railway line was sanctioned in 1997, when I was MP. This railway line is operational now. Work on the Sonipat-Gohana-Jind railway line is in progress,” he said.

Mr. Arunendra Kumar gave details about the new project.

The alternative route Rohtak-Samargopalpur will provide a third line between the two stations along the main line and a new platform at Rohtak. This will also eliminate a blind curve of 2 km and 8 existing level crossing gates.

A road will be developed in place of the old railway line from Rohtak to Makrauli. This will benefit about a dozen colonies, an official release said.