City residents and industrialists are very hopeful of getting better facilities from the railway budget scheduled for July 8. After the burden of increased fare, now people feel the government should utilise the funds to provide better facilities at the railway station as well as on train.
Himanshu Sharma, a passenger at city railway station, said, “Fine, if they have increased the passenger fare by 14.2%, now its government’s turn to show how they will utilise this increased fare for providing amenities.”
Another passenger, Neeta, said, “The lack of basic facilities at city platform has also irked the passengers. The station lacks appropriate number of benches. In summer, it’s hard to find cold drinking water, and the washrooms are always dirty.”
The newly-built foot overbridge has no passage to platform no 1. The proposals of escalators and automatic ticket vending machines are also hanging fire since long. Passengers are a harried lot because of the rush in trains, and have demanded increase in the number of general coaches particularly.
Member of Parliament Ravneet Bittu demanded new train between Gurudwara Nanaksar Kaleran Jagraon to Sachkhand Takht Shri Huzoor Sahib.
{{/usCountry}}Member of Parliament Ravneet Bittu demanded new train between Gurudwara Nanaksar Kaleran Jagraon to Sachkhand Takht Shri Huzoor Sahib.
{{/usCountry}}INDUSTRIES HOPE FOR FREIGHT CORRIDOR
The proposal for a freight corridor was made many years ago, but has not been implemented till now. Gurmeet Kular, president of the Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisation (FICO) hoped that Modi government will start this freight corridor. With this freight corridor, the industry here will get a boost as supply of goods will become faster.
“Ludhiana has no sea coast nearby and the industries based here are export oriented, thus a freight corridor will induce a new spirit,” said Kular.
Knitwear Club chairman Vinod K Thapar said, “Industrialists also want a dedicated Shatabdi train for Ludhiana. The timings should also be changed.”