Harsimrat opens FOBs at railway station

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 18

Union Cabinet Minister for Food Processing, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, inaugurated newly constructed FOBs (foot overbridges) at the city railway station on Monday.

Senior officials of the Northern Railways, Ambala division, welcomed the Cabinet Minister. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ambala, Dinesh Chand, Senior Divisional Operating Manager (Operations), Virendar Kadyan, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Hari Mohan, and station superintendent Ramswaroop Meena among other dignitaries were present at the railway station.

Apart from FOBs towards Bathinda-Ferozepur and Bathinda-Delhi railway line, Harsimrat also inaugurated the recently renovated general class waiting hall, electrification of Bathinda-Lehra Muhabbat railway line and beautification of the city railway station by local artists.

In her address, Badal said, “We have been conducting upgrade of the railway stations and airports in the region. And upgrade along with beautification of airports and railway station give a good impression to people visiting from other cities. I have been regularly writing to the Railway Ministry for upgrading the railway stations with modern amenities.”

“Recently, the Ministry of Railways gave its nod to provide stoppage of Delhi to Sriganganagar Intercity Express at Budhlada and Delhi Sarai Rohilla to Bikaner Superfast Express at the Rampura Phul railway station. We have also managed to increase the number of trains and electrification of railway lines has also increased. Earlier, basic amenities such as clean water, smooth roads and cleanliness were distant dreams for the people of the region,” she added.

The work for the FOBs was completed six months ago and they had been in public use since then. As the agency carrying out the project work officially handed these over to the Railways recently, the formal inauguration was done on Monday.

On being asked about the slashed rates of petrol by Rs 5 and Rs 1 of diesel in the state budget announced on Monday, Badal said, “The state government should have slashed rates of fuel earlier as other states have done. But it is good that they have announced it now.”