Trains cancelled, passengers harried

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

Anil, a passenger, was anxiously looking for another train heading to Uttar Pradesh, as Unchahar Express, in which he had made reservations nearly a month ago, was cancelled due to the double-laning work of the Dappar- Chandigarh section.

Several other long-route trains have been either cancelled or short terminated till Ambala Cantt.

Anil was not the only one harassed, another passenger Ashish was also supposed to travel to Kanpur today, but could not. “I am completely at loss. I do not know what to do. I will somehow reach Kanpur, but how will I manage to bring my little child back to the city. May be I’ll reach Delhi and then take a bus to Chandigarh from there,” said Ashish.

Confusion prevailed at the ticket counter of the railway station and several passengers were heading to Ambala and Delhi to catch trains to their destination.

All passengers were expressing their grouse against the Railways for the inconvenience caused to them. “This reflects the faulty planning of the railway authorities. Why the authorities kept booking the tickets if the trains were to be cancelled. The authorities washed their hands by issuing a notice few days ago, but we were left in lurch,” said a residents standing at the current ticket counter.

However, Station Director Hari Deep said the move was for the betterment of the passengers. “We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers. The completion of the stretch will help in increasing the train mobility,” said Hari Deep.

In the meantime, Chandigarh- Jaipur Express has also been short terminated till Ambala Cantt.

The Railways had announced the cancellation of trains due to the double-laning work on the Chandigarh- Dhappar section.

Ambala Cantt-Kalka passenger train remains cancelled from March 17 to March 25. The Chandigarh- Gorakhpur Holiday Special, Delhi Sarai Rohilla- Kalka, Bhiwani- Kalka Express, Chandigarh-Amritsar intercity, Kalka Katra Express, Una Himachal- New Delhi Jan Shatabdi Express, Una Haridwar Jan Shatabdi Express link Express, Unchahar Express and Chandigarh- Lucknow Express were also cancelled from March 17 till March 25.

While Amritsar-Chandigarh intercity express will ply between Mohali and Amritsar, Patliputra- Chandigarh will ferry passenger till Ambala Cantt. Ferozepur-Chandigarh Express will ferry the passengers till Ludhiana. Similarly, Ajmer Express will take the passengers till Ambala Cantt.

Shiv-Shani and Shirdi Darshan from April 19

The IRCTC is introducing the “Shiv-Shani- Shirdi Darshan” —  a 6 nights and 7 days  tour package — that takes the traveller to visit some of the most famous places in Maharastra on April 19.  The destinations covered in this tour package are Shirdi, Trimbakeshwar, Panchwati, Grishneshwar, Ellora.