Centre's nod for a network
of rail projects in Punjab
Badal calls on Lalu Yadav
Chandigarh May 31, 2008
Centre today gave its nod for upgrading railway infrastructure
in Punjab through a chain of new tracks, construction of old and
new over and under-bridges and improving railways communication
network.
An assurance to this effect was given to the Punjab Chief Minister
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal when he called on the Minister for Railways
Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi this afternoon.
The centre gave its nod in principle to a number of projects which
Mr. Badal termed as "new rail transport sub-arteries in Punjab".
Chief Minister's Media Advisor Harcharan Bains said in Chandigarh
that Mr. Badal specially sought Mr. Yadav's personal intervention
for an early clearance of the proposal for the construction of
18 new railway bridges in different districts of the state to
reduce the traffic congestion and ensure smooth movement of the
vehicular traffic, specially at the crossings.
The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to exempt
the state from haulage charges on the running of the proposed
luxury-cum-heritage train for the initial five years. He also
ought easing up of some other conditions on the prestigious project.
He also urged Mr. Yadav for the up gradation of railway station
of Jalandhar and Ludhiana as per international standard, said
Mr. Bains.
The Chief Minister also focused on the raising and re-modeling
of 17 culverts railway bridges in the 4 districts of Muktsar,
Ferozepur, Bathinda and Faridkot. He said that the cattle crossing
gate at village Biring Khera in block Lambi of Distirct Muktsar
needed to be converted into a manned crossing railway gate. The
State would deposit the requisite funds for this purpose, Bains
said.
The Chief Minister sought central clearance for the railway over
bridge on Gidderbaha on Bhatinda-Hanumangarh line, and the laying
of a new railway line from Rama Mandi to Mour Mandi in district
Bhatinda. The necessary survey for this project had already been
conducted by the Ministry of Railways.
Bains said that the Union Railways Minister agreed with Mr.
Badal that since Punjab was a border state, and it deserved more
wholesome and elaborate railway network not only to bring prosperity
to the state but also boost also strengthen logistic support for
the armed forces. The prospects of agriculture and industry in
the state would also be positively impacted by such improvements
in the railways infrastructure, Mr. Badal told Mr. Yadav.
The Railways Minister assured Mr. Badal that all the issues
raised by him relating to the up gradation of railway infrastructure
in terms of the construction of new railway over and under bridge,
railway stations and railway lines would be addressed within a
specific time-frame.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Secretary PWD Mr. Karan
Avtar Singh special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister
Punjab Mr. K.J.S. Cheema, Principal Resident Commission, New Delhi
Ms. Anjuly Chib Duggal. The Member Traffic, Member Engineering
of Railway Board and Secretary Railways Government of India were
also present in meeting.
