Punjab may get 200 kilometer per hour speed train, which is currently under consideration of the Central Government. Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu on Sunday disclosed that India was near to launch a speed train under consideration of the Government, and this train will also be given to Punjab when it starts operation in the country.
“The Centre is working to launch a superfast train with a speed of 200 kilometre per hour and Punjab will have this train between Punjab and New Delhi,” he said. Prabhu also announced that in coming time, special trains from Punjab will be steamed off for Patna Sahib for facilitation of sangat during 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.
The Union Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stone of seven ambitious railway projects at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore for Punjab from a location Railway Ground Bathinda. These include Rajpura-Bathinda railway line doubling project worth Rs 1,720 crore and 16 limited Height Subways at a cost of Rs 40 on various rail locations besides inaugurating Mansa-Bathinda newly doubled rail line laid at a cost of Rs 150 crore, New Station Building at Beas, New Running Room at ludhiana worth Rs three crore, Food Plaza at Ferozepur Railway Station and five Water Vending Machines at Bathinda Railway Station. “Punjab has played a pivotal role to secure nation and its borders besides immensely contributing in national food kitty. The contribution of Punjab can never be paid off,” he added.
Prabhu said Punjab would witness massive transformation in railway infrastructure and its development in time to come.
He further disclosed that Railway Ministry and the states was going to form a company in collaboration and “this joint venture would further speed up the pace of Rail Development, Infrastructure and Investment in Railway Sector”.
“The issue is under consideration with some states, which would be finalized soon. This initiative is taken to make the states an active partner in railway projects and infrastructure building,” he said.
Prabhu announced that Tejas and Humsafar trains would also be launched in the country, which was of world class standards. “These world class trains would also touch Punjab through different routes. UDAY train will also be launched in the country, which will steam off in night and reach at destination early morning,” he added.
He also announced to make Amritsar and Jalandhar Railway Stations a world class by giving these stations complete facelift. “The work on Jalandhar’s railway station would be completed by the end of 2017 while the project of Amritsar is being finalised in consultation with the Union Tourism Ministry,” he added.
Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, thanking Prabhu for giving ambitious rail projects to Punjab, said that NDA government had given scores of prestigious projects to Punjab in two years.
Majithia, speaking on the issue of SYl, said that Congress was trying to befool people of Punjab for political gains. “Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder wanted to abandon the people of Amritsar and contest the next assembly elections from Patiala. He had used the SYl issue to resign from the Parliament and gain cheap publicity. If Amarinder is so disturbed by this development, why is he crying crocodile tears. Why hasn’t he asked all Member Parliament to resignIJ” he said.