City leaders welcome elevation of Bansal

Union Minister Pawan Bansal's elevation to the Ministry of Railways has generated much expectation in the city, with residents and leaders expressing the hope that apart from increased connectivity of city, the delayed projects will be fast tracked.

B B Bahl, President, Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee, said, "It is a moment of pride for people of Chandigarh that the local MP has been given the charge of Ministry of Railways. It will also be in the best interests of the party. We are hopeful that there would be more trains introduced, connecting the city to different destinations."

Sanjay Tandon, President, Bharatiya Janata Party also echoed Bahl's hope for a better train service. "I hope and pray that the Minister seriously works for the benefit of the city. There is an expectation that rail connectivity to and from the city will increase. When he was the Minister for Water Resources, Chandigarh did not get any additional water. However, we hope that now he will work for the advantage of the city," Tandon said.

Satya Pal Jain, incharge, Legal and Legislative Cell of BJP, also expressed the hope that Bansal's performance would improve, saying, "A very important portfolio, that of Railways has been given to the local MP. I wish that he will be able to perform better than what he has done in the past when he could not do much for the city. People will assess him on his performance."

"There are several pending projects that need to be completed, including the Chandigarh-Ludhiana Railway line, the expansion of the railway station in the city and the construction of overbridges," he added.

Pardeep Chhabra, Congress Councillor, felt that though all states would be benefited by Bansal's elevation, the city's demands would also be fulfilled. "Chandigarh is a mini metro with people from different states residing here. There are several demands for the city which will now get fulfilled. These include more connectivity, upgradation of the Railway Station, construction of Baddi railway line and completion of Metro project among others. It is for the first time that an MP from a Union Territory has been made Minister of Railways. All states will get equal benefits," he said.

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