Adaish Pratap Singh Kairon Food and Civil Supplies Minister Punjab today discussed vital issues pertaining to strengthening the existing railway links and creating new railway lines in Punjab besides improving and increasing the connectivity and frequency of the special trains running for different religions destinations with the Union Railways Minister Mr. Suresh Prabhu during his short stay in Chandigarh today.Kairon expressed his gratitude to the Union Railways Minister for giving his nod to construct a new railway link between Patti and Freozepur and also sanctioning the works of shifting of goods siding from Patti city. He said that the construction of new railway link would ease out the railway congestion on this line besides directly helping People.According to Mr. Kairon the direct line to be constructed between Punjab and Mumbai would bypass the congested Delhi hub saving a lot of time.
Giving due respect to the religious sentiments of the Punjabis, Mr. Kairon urged the railways Minister to further improve the connectivity and increase the frequency of the special trains running from Punjab to various religious destinations in the country in order to facilitate people to pay their obeisance at these holy and sacred sites.To ensure prompt transportation of grains in various mandis across the state, Mr. Kairon impressed upon the Union Railways Minister to allow additional rakes besides enhancing their frequency so as to accomplish the task of shifting grains within and outside the state in a hassle free manner.Responding to this issue raised by Mr. Kairon, the Union Railways Minister directed the authorities of Northern Railways to do the needful in this regard in consultations with the Chief Secretary of Punjab.
Appreciating the decision of the Union government to develop about 507 kanals of low lying garbage dumping area adjoining the Patti Railway station into a park and yoga centre, Mr. Kairon said that modalities are being worked out to plant herbal and ornamental trees all over this area. He urged the Railways Minister Mr. Prabhu that the development work of this area under Prime Minister’s Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan could be initiated by signing a MOU between the Union Railways Ministry and the Forest Department of Punjab. The Minister said that it would help to mitigate the problems being faced by the people and also contribute largely towards the Swatchh Bharat Campaign launched by the Government of India.Later, Mr. Kairon along with other senior officers of the state government accompanied the Union Railways Minister Mr. Prabhu to the Chandigarh Railway station to see him off.