By: Vijay Kumar Verma, Editor-ICN Group
SHIMLA: Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goel today said that speed and frequency of trains running on Kalka- Shimla railway line will be increased while efforts would also be made to reduce the duration of journey from existing five hours to merely three hours, during the discussions with the visiting Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur at New Delhi today.
Giving directions to the concerned officers of the Ministry he also said that speed of the Jogindernagar-Pathankot train would also be increased in similar manner. The Chief Minister was discussing about expansion of rail network in Himachal Pradesh with the Minister for Railways.
Thanking the Union Minister, Jai Ram Thakur said that this would ease the traffic on the Kalka-Shimla highway and more tourists would prefer to travel by train while enjoying the scenic beauty. He also requested the Railways Minister for speedy action on Bhanupali-Bilaspur and Una-Hamirpur railway lines and improving facilities at various railway stations on Kalka-Shimla route as well as developing a multi-storeyed parking near Shimla railway station having all kinds of facilities.
The Union Minister said that all possible assistance would be provided and added that Jogindernagar-Pathankot narrow gauge railway line will also be strengthened. He urged the state government to explore the possibilities of providing land for Una-Hamirpur railway line.
He said that tenders shall be finalized for multi-storeyed parking and commercial complex on the railway land which will be helpful in easing traffic congestion in Shimla.
Additional Chief Secretaries Dr. Shrikant Baldi and Manisha Nanda, Senior officers of Ministry of Railways, Principal PS to CM Vinay Singh, and Media Adviser to CM Rohit Sawal were present in the meeting.
