Regularise Shalimar-Jaipur special train, Chamber writes to Railway Minister

In view of a large number of traders visting Jaipur, the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Sunday shot off a letter to Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu demanding regularisation of the  Shalimar-Jaipur AC Special  train, which goes via Tatanagar railway station.

The train introduced in the first week of April to clear summer rush will run till June 28, as per the railway schedule.

A senior functionary of SCCI, Vijay Anand Moonka, in the letter said that train is very important for route as passengers especially those natives of Rajasthan travel in that train. " The train has received overwhelming response. This is the only direct train for Jaipur. The train should be regularised keeping in view the larger interest of the passengers especially traders," he said in the letter. 

In the letter Moonka also expressed concerns that no benefit of concession is given to senior citizens travelling on that train. "We request the railway ministry to provide concessions to senior citizens as it is provided to them  in other trains," said Moonka. He also demanded withdrawal of Rs 400 levied on tickets as special fare.

The trade body has demanded a train to Jaipur keeping in view a large population of Rajasthanis in the steel city.  Businessmen want a direct train to Jaipur where they have to go for  business. In the absence of a direct train to Jaipur, they are required to travel to Howrah to board a train for Jaipur.

President of SCCI Suresh Sonthalia said that they had also sent a request to South Eastern Railway for regularising the train. " The train will immensely help those who goes to Jaipur as a tourist and also for business purpose. Several traders of Jamshedpur and other places of Kolhan goes to Jaipur for business purpose," he added.

The train with six AC-II, 10 AC-III coaches and two EOG (end on generation) power cars (carrying DG sets) stops at Kharagpur, Tatanagar, Chakradharpur, Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Bilaspur, Pendra Road, Katni, Murwara, Damoh, Sagour, Guna , Kota, Bansthali Niwai, Durgapura and Jaipur.

located on the Howrah-Mumbai main route Tatanagar is an important station. Several important trains travel via Tatanagar, including the high-profile Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express. The station sees a daily traffic of 90 mail, express and passenger trains, besides a footfall of more than 60,000 passengers.