CHANDIGARH: Railway minister Piyush Goyal has suggested that one
Tejas train proposed on the Chandigarh-Delhi section and just one out the three Shatabdi Express plying at the moment will be enough to cater to the needs of the city.
“I am not satisfied with the occupancy of evening Shatabdi in which I travelled today. The occupancy of the existing three Shatabdis is 40% as per railway’s records. How can Tejas be introduced on this section?” said Goyal, before proposing to cut down two Shatabdis. The minister, who reached the city on Friday, said a decision on the plying of Tejas is yet to be taken. Tejas train is planned to run six days a week (barring Wednesday). It will reduce the travel time by 35 minutes. A Shatabdi takes 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach Delhi. According to the proposal, Tejas will ply at 130 kmph from New Delhi to
Ambala stretch and from Ambala to Chandigarh at 110kmph.
Railway minister Piyush Goyal at the Chandigarh railway station
Shatabdi food quality good, says Goyal
It will have12 coaches, out of which nine are chair car, one executive car and two regenerative vans.
The minister said he was satisfied with the quality of food served on board Shatabdi. Sharing the plans for Kalka-Shimla section, he said the division is working for its upgradation.
Railway is going to introduce a new hop-on-hop-off rail cars from
Kalka to Shimla under which a passenger will buy a single ticket and can halt at various stations on this section, he said. He added if the project is successful, more such coaches will be ordered.
The ministry said the world class station move is to monetise the station through which the railway will generate revenue from the Chandigarh railway station, but it is yet to commence.
Piyush Goyal (File Photo)
