Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday laid the foundation stone of country’s first railway bypass — Rohtak Railway Bypass line in Haryana. This bypass will be in place of Rohtak-Makrauli section of Rohtak-Panipat line, which passes through the city of Rohtak.

On the occasion, Kharge said with the shifting of this line, a third Rohtak-Samargopalpur line would be available which would facilitate straight route to Panipat. This will help the development of Rohtak city, because the earlier Rohtak-Makrauli line is eliminated.

He also announced that ludhiana-Delhi Shatabdi train will run on all seven days of the week and will have a stoppage at Jind. At present, this train runs twice a week.

Foundation stone of 4 laning of Rohtak-Hisar section of NH no 10 at Hansi was laid by Union Surface Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes on the same day. Fernandes announced to sanction railway over bridge at Dabwali which would cost more than `37 crore.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda thanked the Ministers for laying the foundation stone of ambitious projects in the State. So far, there have been the road bypass projects only and this would be the country’s first railway bypass.

Hooda said roads and railway lines are important factors for progress. The project will further boost the development of the State.Hooda announced that the State Government would give 50 per cent of `2,515 crore for implementation of three railway line projects of

Delhi-Sohna-Nuh-Ferozpur Jhirka-Alwar, Hisar-Agroha-Fatehabad-Sirsa and Yamunanagar-Sadhora-Naraingarh-Chandigarh thus paving the way for their early construction. The length of these rail lines would be 104 km, 93 km and 91 km respectively.

Hooda described 28 July as a glorious day for the Haryana State saying that this day would prove to be a new milestone as three important projects have been launched on a single day. He said the rail line would reduce the travel time to Delhi. The rail line will have seven railway stations including three halt stations at Bahuakbarpur, Balambha and Sorkhi. The crossing stations would be at Madina, Meham, Mundhal and Gadhi. Roads and rail lines bring development and prosperity and these new projects would usher in a new era of development in the State.

A rally was also organised to mark the occasion of foundation stone laying ceremony of Hansi-Meham-Rohtak rail line and 4 laning of Hisar-Hansi-Meham-Rohtak section of National Highway No 10.