Extend Kota-Sriganganagar Express to Bathinda, demand passengers

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 3

City residents have demanded the extension of the Kota-Sriganganagar SF Express (22981-82) to Bathinda. They said the train reaches Sriganganagar at 10 am from Kota and at that time, there is no further train to Bathinda.

“The train takes a halt of around eight hours at the Sriganganagar railway station. Thereafter on the same day, it departs for Kota at 5.40 pm. If the train is extended to the Bathinda railway station, it will provide a relief to local passengers. Now, they have to wait for several hours for the next train to reach Bathinda,” they added.

A railway employee, who did not wish to be named, said, “If the Railways authorities directly connect the train to the Bathinda railway junction without diverting it from the Hanumangarh junction, the move will definitely increase the revenue. Normally, a less number of passengers board the train when it departs from the Sriganganagar station, but their number increases at the Hanumangarh junction.”

Kulwant Singh, a passenger, said, “To board the Kota-Sriganganagar SF Express train, one has to change another train from the Hanumangarh railway junction. The Railways authorities should make changes according to passengers’ convenience.”

When contacted, Ramswaroop Meena, station superintendent, said, “The move to extend the Kota-Sriganganagar SF Express train to Bathinda is already in the pipeline and soon, city residents will be facilitated with the connectivity of this train.”