Going by the numbers, travelling by train is getting popular among city residents. There has been a consistent annual increase of 10 per cent in passenger volume at the Chandigarh railway station.

Officials say this growth rate may reach 40-50 per cent with the commissioning of new railway lines from Chandigarh by the end of this year.

According to latest figures, around 28,000 people in Chandigarh travel through trains every day. With the opening of new lines from Chandigarh to Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Jammu, this number is likely to increase.

“Chandigarh is emerging as an important railway station. It is counted as one of the model stations. There is an annual increase of 10 per cent in passenger traffic volume at the station,” Ambala Divisional Railway Manager H K Jaggi said. “Railway authorities are gearing up for a spurt in passenger volume and are planning additional facilities.”

Jaggi added that the Ambala Division was considering introducing several new trains. “Despite existing trains to Mumbai, Lucknow and Delhi, there have been demands by Chandigarh residents for additional trains to these destinations. Though special trains are introduced on regular basis during peak season, there is a perpetual demand for trains to these cities,” Jaggi said.

At present, 17 pairs of trains operate from the Chandigarh railway station. Besides express trains on longer routes, several passenger trains run between Chandigarh and cities like Ambala, Kalka, Churaru Takrala and Delhi.