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

ROHTAK: The bi-weekly Shatabdi train between Ludhiana and Delhi will run seven days a week, Railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge said here today.

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

Kharge was here to lay foundation for Rs 181 crore Rohtak Railway bypass line.

The bypass would replace the old Rohtak-Gohana rail track starting from the railway station upto Makrauli Kalan village in the district.

The bypass would ease the 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 straight route to Panipat.

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

He appreciated the progress made by Haryana and said the state is producing sufficient foodgrains and "adequate railway network is required for its transporting."

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 are 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 present at the occasion.

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

"34 years back, 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.

"Rohtak-Jhajjar-Rewari railway line was sanctioned in 1997, when I was MP. This railway line is operational now. The work of Sonipat-Gohana-Jind railway line is in progress," he said.

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.