'Parikarma train welcomed, but not enough'

AMRITSAR: Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi's announcement of starting the Guru Parikarma train, connecting Amritsar, Patna and Nanded has been welcomed by Sikhs as the single train would be linking three Takhts -- Sri Akal Takht, Amritsar, Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded.
"The announcement is welcome but the minister should have commenced a train connecting all the five Takhts," was the reaction of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar.
Talking to TOI on Wednesday, he said if the railway minister had started a train connecting all the five Takhts, it would have been a great facility for Sikhs, especially those coming from abroad to pay obeisance at all the Takhts.
A resident of Ludhiana, Ravinder Singh, said that he often goes to Amritsar to pay obeisance at Golden Temple. Now, after the announcement of new train connecting the three Takhts, he has made up his mind to take his family on pilgrimage to the three Takhts.
Chairman, Punjab, Confederation of Indian Industry, Gunbir Singh, said that the government should have started another Shatabdi between Amritsar and Delhi and a night train to Delhi in view of the heavy traffic.
He said the minister should have paid more attention to improving infrastructure at rail yards for cargo since perishable items and even cement lie in the open.
However, there is disappointment among businessmen about not extending the freight corridor to Attari, especially in view of the upcoming integrated check post there.
Khanna Paper Mills Ltd director Suneet Kochhar said that the existing rail network was not adequate as compared to the burgeoning rail freight business.
"It should have been expanded and dedicated freight lines should have been upgraded or accelerated to avoid congestion on the operative routes," said Kochhar.
The number of existing rakes, wagons and racks should also be substantially increased to cater to the increasing demand, he added.
Gunbir said that the railway ministry had not done anything about its previous announcement of conforming the Amritsar railway station to international standards. Daily passengers rued that the railway minister should have at least proposed to construct more platforms at Amritsar railway station due to which the trains were stopped at "outer" for more than 45 minutes.
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