Railways’ nod to electrification of Una-Amb-Andaura section

Our Correspondent

Una, October 22

The electrification work on the 27-km-long Una to the Amb-Andaura broad gauge track has received a green signal after a long wait. The decision comes after the visit of Divisional Railways Construction Head Rakesh Kalra on Friday.

The budget was allocated in the Union Railway Budget 2014-15, but the work did not begin due to some reasons. In the absence of electrification, the daily Himachal Express train commuting between Delhi and Amb-Andaura has changed its locomotive from electric to diesel at Nangal. Besides, the daily passenger train running between Ambala and Amb-Andaura runs on a diesel engine.

Sumit Sharma, a member of the Northern Railways, said the construction wing head from the Ambala Division, Rakesh Kalra, visited Una on Friday. After inspecting the track, he has given the green signal for the electrification work. He said a sum of about Rs 10 crore would be spent on the work, which was scheduled to be completed by the end of the current financial year.

Sharma said Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur had sent a representation to Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu seeking an alternate passage to a mosque, whose approach road had been obstructed due to the ongoing track laying work near Amb on the Amb-Andaura to Daulatpur section. He said the Railways authorities had decided to provide a foot-over bridge approach to the place of worship.