Ludhiana Shatabdi makes last run

Parvesh Sharma

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 3

Launched eight years ago, the New Delhi-Ludhiana Shatabdi Express train will become history on Friday as today the train made its last journey, causing resentment among area residents, who said the train was launched to help unserved areas.

Cabinet Minister Vijay Inder Singla, who got the train started on November 4, 2011, demanded that the Central government should launch another train without withdrawing Shatabdi to celebrate 550th Parkash Purb, while Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said they had also written to the Centre against withdrawal of Shatabdi.

“I have always travelled to Delhi on Shatabdi because it was very comfortable and had all required facilities. Like me, many others availed the services of this train,” said Babbu Ahuja, a local shopkeeper.

Though the railway authorities say the Shatabdi has been withdrawn due to low booking and another superfast train will replace it from Friday, area residents demanded that the authorities should have extended the Shatabdi till Jalandhar and should have also increased its stations.

“Mainly it has been withdrawn due to low bookings because it has few stations to stop while new super express will have more stations. There will not be any problem as passengers will get another train from Friday,” said Jitendar Kumar, Sangrur station master.

Shatabdi used to depart from New Delhi at 7 am and reach Ludhiana at noon and departed from Ludhiana at 4.40 pm and reached New Delhi at 10 pm.

Initially, it used to run on two days. Later, MP Singla took the matter with the senior railway authorities, following which it was extended to all days on September 8, 2013.

“Had Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal been serious, she would have got launched another train under the name of ‘Sarbat Da Bhala Express’ (blessings for all) and not allowed the withdrawal of Shatabdi. It shows SAD leaders only want to do politics and are non-serious about the development of the state,” said Singla.