Rly committee member gives memo to Harsimrat, DRM

Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 22

Sukhdev Ram Bansal, a member of the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC), Ambala division, has given a demand letter to Union Minister of Food Processing and Member of Parliament from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ambala Division, over the issue pertaining to the Bathinda railway station.

In the letter, he has said there are no toilets on platform Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. He has demanded that toilets should be constructed on all platforms. Most of the mail trains stop at platform Nos. 5, 6 and 7, but there are no benches and sheds. He has demanded that this issue should be resolved.

Further, he has said the current reservation counter has been lying closed on the platform, which should be opened. Even second entry ticket window opens for eight hours in a day, which should be open 24 hours round the clock.

Moreover, he has also demanded extending the washing line at Bathinda railway station. He has stated that at present there are two washing lines — one for 10 bogies and 12 bogies. Seeing the length of the trains, the washing lines should be extended to accommodate at least 26 bogies.

He has demanded that the digital teller should be installed at the platforms which would show the bogie number of the coming train so that passenger can wait at the platform where their bogie/compartment would come and help passengers while boarding the train.

The indication button should be installed at the inquiry office for the right information pertaining to trains. He has also pressed for the construction of the platform on the front side toward broad gauge mall godown as this would provide direct access to passengers without the foot-overbrigade or ramp. The clock room should be made near the foot overbridge at platform No. 5.

Sukhdev Ram Bansal has also sought that the Jaipur-Hisar Gorakdham Express, Delhi-Kanpur Sham Shakti Express, Kota-Sri Ganganagar, Delhi-Allahabad Prayag Express, Ambala-Dhuri train should be extended to Bathinda.

Further, he has demanded that a direct express train should be started from Bathinda to Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Haridwar. A special train from Bathinda to Banaras should be run regularly. Even diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains should be started on all sections from Bathinda.

Moreover, seeing a heavy rush, five bogies each should be added to the Sri Ganganagar-Haridwar and Ambala-Sri Ganganagar trains.

Sukhdev Ram has also demanded to convert Shatabdi Express into Jan-Shatabdi Express and run it at its old timing, at 4.20 pm, from Bathinda.

Toilets sought at platforms

• The memorandum says there are no toilets on platform Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The complainant has demanded that toilets should be constructed on all platforms. Most of the mail trains stop at platform Nos. 5, 6 and 7, but there are no benches and sheds. He has demanded that this issue should be resolved.
• The complainant, Sukhdev Ram Bansal, has also sought that the Jaipur-Hisar Gorakdham Express, Delhi-Kanpur Sham Shakti Express, Kota-Sri Ganganagar, Delhi-Allahabad Prayag Express, Ambala-Dhuri train should be extended to Bathinda.
• Sukhdev has demanded that a direct express train should be started from Bathinda to Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Haridwar. A special train from Bathinda to Banaras should be run regularly. Even DMU trains should be started on all sections from Bathinda.