Sukhbir asked why no new trains to Ferozepur

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, January 20

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have questioned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal for being silent on the “indifferent” treatment meted out to his Lok Sabha segment, Ferozepur, when it comes to long-distance trains.

In all, 10 trains were introduced from Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh in the past one year. But there has been none for Abohar and Malout, which are part of Sukhbir’s constituency.

In letters sent to Sukhbir, the Railway Passengers’ Welfare Association and Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat office-bearers Hanuman Dass Goyal, Umesh Bansal and Ashok Garg said that neither Sukhbir nor his predecessor Sher Singh Ghubaya safeguarded the interests of railway passengers in Abohar, Fazilka and Malout.

They said that the Railways under “pressure” from BJP MP from Sriganganagar Nihal Chand had diverted a tri-weekly train connecting Sriganganagar, Abohar, Malout, Gidderbaha, Bathinda and Nanded Sahib through Hanumangarh.

State Congress chief president Sunil Jakhar, Sukhbir and Abohar MLA Arun Narang had urged the Railway Minister to ply the train daily, but it runs via Abohar and Malout only twice a week.

Punjab leaders had requested Railway Minister to extend Jammu-Tawi-Bathinda Express to Sriganganagar through Malout and Abohar, but officials told the minister that it was technically impossible. Chand has got the same train extended to Jodhpur via Hanumangarh instead of Abohar. He had flagged off the train last week.

The NGOs have expressed concern over BJP MP’s move to get Udyan Abha Delhi Howrah Toofan Express routed from Sriganganagar through Hanumangarh at least thrice a week instead of its present route that benefits hundreds of passengers of Abohar, Malout and Gidderbaha.