Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Blaming the Badals for delay in resumption of train service between Chandigarh and Ferozepur via Ludhiana, Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh today supported the agitation launched by the residents of Ferozepur and surrounding areas demanding early start of the service between the two cities.
In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder blamed the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the delay in resumption of the train as it would impact his transport business. He said, the residents of Ferozepur area were genuinely feeling that it was Mr Badal who was discouraging the resumption of the train which was announced by the Railway Minister in his Rail Budget speech in July.
“Ideally the Chief Minister should have pressed for early start of the train when it had been approved in the rail budget”, he remarked, while adding, “but knowing Badals’ business interests which are going to be affected by this train he will be the last person to allow it to run”.
The former Chief Minister said, compared to Rs 400 charged by the Badal’s transport company for travel between Ferozepur and Chandigarh, the train fare is Rs 90 only. Besides, he added, the train travel is faster, safer and comfortable. “Since Badals know that once the train becomes regular, his transport business will be hit and hence he was not allowing it to resume”, he observed.
He said, the railways had started a special train between Ferozepur and Chandigarh via Ludhiana in March for about one and a half month. He said, it had come as great relief for the people of Ludhiana and Ferozepur. But, he added, the Badals ensured that the train was taken off so that their transport business remained intact.
Capt Amarinder said, he will be soon leading a delegation from Ferozepur including Guru Harsahai MLA Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi to the Union Railway minister and he will ensure that the train which was announced as a regular train is started at the earliest.
