Didi’s rail budget disappoints residents

Many proposals of last year’s Railway budget are yet to materialise.

Converting the Chandigarh railway station into a world-class station was one of the most welcomed proposals of last year’s budget.

Others included baggage scanners,vehicle monitoring through CCTV cameras,ceiling of stations and exclusive detection through dog squads and machines under integrated security system.

“It should be a priority for the Railways to complete all pending proposals. We welcome the announcement of Duronto from Chandigarh to Amritsar . But what was required for this link was an inter-city train. As Duronto would be a non-stop train with AC coaches,it would cater to specific traffic while there is a considerable amount of traffic for Ludhiana and Jalandhar as well. There was greater requirement for a direct train to Mumbai and Jammu instead,” said Joginder Singh Bhogal,a member of Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee,Northern Railways.

The two pairs of Shatabdi trains from Kalka to Delhi cater to huge traffic from Chandigarh.

The quality of food served in these trains has been questioned by passengers time and again.

“The food menu of Shatabdis should be revised immediately. There should be a check on the quality too. Also,the rakes of Shatabdi,which departs from Chandigarh in the morning and arrives at Chandigarh at 8:37 pm,pending for more than two years,should be replaced at the earliest,” said Rajat Garg,a frequent passenger of the train.

According to a senior Railways official,the replacement of rakes was on the agenda and would be done within this financial year.

Among catering and food,the main focus in this year’s budget is on the lower segment. While the policy for catering service would remain the same,there could be some review.

The residents were eagerly waiting progress on converting Chandigarh into a world-class station.

But to their disappointment,nothing concrete took shape in the last one year.

Also,the sanction of Rs 64 crore on the integrated security system for 38 railway stations under the Ambala Division during the previous budget could not result in major changes.

The installation of CCTV cameras was the only achievement.

Pending proposals
* Chandigarh to be converted into a world-class station
* Traffic survey for Chandigarh-Naraingarh-Yamunanagar rail link
* Replacement of Shatabdi (2005/2006) rakes
* Integrated security system to be installed at the Chandigarh station

Repeated demands missed out
* Direct rail services from Chandigarh to Mumbai
* Direct rail services from Chandigarh to Jammu

* Stress on food and catering in Shatabdis

* Better security at the railway station