Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu today said that India was near to launch 200 kilometer per hour speed train under consideration of Government of India, and this train will also be given to Punjab when it starts operation in the country. Mr. 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.While inaugurating and laying foundation stone of 7 ambitious railway projects at a cost of Rs. 2000 crore for Punjab from a one location Railway Ground Bathinda, Mr. Prabhu said that Government of India was working to launch a Superfast train with a speed of 200 kilometer per hour and Punjab will have this train between Punjab and New Delhi. Mr. Prabhu laid foundation stone of Rajpura-Bathinda railway line doubling project worth Rs. 1720 crore and 16 Limited Height Subways at a cost of Rs. 40 on various rail locations in Punjab 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. 3 crore, Food Plaza at Ferozepur Railway Station and 5 Water Vending Machines at Bathinda Railway Station.
Prabhu said that Punjab had 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, In his address Mr. Prabhu said that Punjab would witness massive transformation in railway infrastructure and its development in time to come. He said that Punjabis had always remained frontrunner to protect the nation and its borders besides feeding the whole nation by contributing maximum grains in national food kitty. He said that Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi led NDA Government would leave no stone unturned to take Punjab to new heights of success. Prabhu accompanied by Revenue Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, PWD Minister Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka also announced that in coming time Special Trains of devotees from Punjab would steam off for Takht Sri Patna Sahib to mark 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.Disclosing that Railway Ministry and States, in collaboration, was going to form a company, Mr. Prabhu said that this joint venture would further speed up the pace of Rail Development, Infrastructure and Investment in Railway Sector. He said that the issue was under consideration with some states, which would be finalized soon. He said that this initiative was taken to make the states an active partner in railway projects and infrastructure building.
Prabhu also announced that fastest train under Superfast category was also being unveiled. He said that this train would run at 200 kilometer per hour speed and Punjab would get this Superfast train. He also announced that Tejas and Humsafar trains would also be launched in the country, which was of world class standards. He said that these world class trains would also touch Punjab through different routes. He said that UDAY train will also be launched in the country, which will steam off in night and reach at destination early morning. Speaking about the annual rail budget for Punjab in UPA Government, Mr. Prabhu said that earlier it was Rs. 224 crore. He said that Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi led NDA government had increased this budget to Rs. 700 crore by fixing annual increase. He said that in past time Punjab had got 10 Railway Over Bridges and 78 Railway Under Bridges.Prabhu also announced to make Amritsar and Jalandhar Railway Stationa world class by giving these stations complete facelift. He said that the work on Jalandhar's railway station would be completed by the end of 2017 while the project of Amritsar was being finalized in consultation with the Union Tourism Ministry.Punjab Revenue Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia in his address thanked Mr. Prabhu for giving ambitious rail projects to Punjab.
He said that NDA government had given scores of prestigious projects to Punjab in two years. He also thanked Mr. Prabhu on the behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Food Processing Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Punjabis for putting new milestones in the field of rail infrastructure development in the state. Speaking on the issue of SYL, Mr. Majithia said that Congress was trying to befool people of Punjab for political gains. Mr Majithia said Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh wanted to abandon the people of Amritsar and contest the next assembly elections from Patiala. He said Amarinder had used the SYL issue to resign from 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 resign?" he added.Public Development Works Minister Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon thanked Mr. Prabhu for these projects and sought an under bridge for Maur area on which the Railway Minister assured that this project would be approved soon.
Meanwhile Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka in his address described that these projects would prove new milestones in the field of rail infrastructure development. He also thanked Mr. Prabhu for new times of Shatabadi express besides extending its route up to Ferozepur. He demanded mini under bridge for Rampura area and the Railway Minister assured that this project will also be approved soon.Local MLA Mr. Sarup Chand Singla demanded direct access to platform at India's biggest rail junction. He also thanked Mr. Prabhu for extending ambitious projects to state. The Railway Minister said that they will discuss this issue in coming time and appropriate decision would be taken. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included MLA S. Darshan Singh Kotfatta, MLA Mr. Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Mayor Mr. Balwant Rai Nath, former MP Bibi Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Chairman Improvement Trust Mr. Dyal Dass Sodhi, General Secretary of BJP Mr. Manjit Singh Rai, BJP District President Mr. Mohit Gupta etc.