Chandigarh, 24 June, 2010: Prof. Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, here today shot of a communication to Ms Mamta Banerjee, Union Railways Minister, wherein she reminded Railway Minister regarding the promise she had made before railway budget for providing a direct superfast train between Amritsar and Chandigarh. She said the Railway Minister had even announced the same during the railway budget. Chawla said that it was disappointing that nothing has been done, till now to fulfil the commitment by the railway ministry. While expressing her apprehension upon materialization of the commitment made by Mamta Banerjee, Prof Chawla she was taking up the issue not as Punjab’s Health Minister, but as common resident of Amritsar as well as representative of people of Amritsar city.
She questioned the rationale behind ignoring such important route by the railways, till now. She further pointed that it is also a hard reality that the transport mafia that has captured the route would never cherish introduction of a good train facility on the route, however such a facility will be a boon for the frequent commuters and common travellers, as it will reduce travelling time and be far economical as compared to other modes of transportation. Prof Chawla said that Chandigarh is Punjab’s capital and thousands of people have to commute in between the Chandigarh Amritsar route for official and personal works, and hence the need of the hour is to have a superfast train that must reach Chandigarh in the morning and go back to Amritsar in the evening
This will not only save public’s crucial time and money but also provide a comfortable journey to them. She urged Ms Mamta Banerjee to immediately look into the matter and introduce the superfast train between the two cities without any delay as it is the demand of the general public and in interest of the people of Punjab.