On the initiative of PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa the name of Chakki Bank railway station has been renamed as Pathankot Cantonment and Bajwa on Sunday dedicates the renamed railway station to people.
Pathankot, August 18, 2013: On the initiative of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Partap Singh Bajwa the name of Chakki Bank railway station here has been renamed as Pathankot Cantonment and Bajwa today dedicated the renamed railway station to people.
This was long standing demand of the local citizens.
Bajwa said that he had made the promise with the local residents at the time of last Lok Sabha elections to get the name of Railway station changed before next Lok Sabha elections. He said that he was elated to fulfill one of major demand of the people of the area. He said that it was a long process since the name had to be approved by Union Home Ministry first followed by Union Railway Ministry. Located on the bank of Chakki River, this Railway Station was set up in 1952.
He said that he would take up with the Union Railway Minister another demand of the local people to start Shatabdi express from Pathankot Cantt to Delhi. He said that better facilities would be provided at the Pathankot Cantt railway station. He said that border districts of Punjab required more railway linkage.
PPCC President said that SAD-BJP government had no priority for the development of border districts. He had got approved rail link between two historical town of Beas, headquarter of Radhaswami sect and Quadian, the international headquarter of Ahamdiya Muslims. The project couldn’t start because state government failed to acquire a portion of land for it. On his request former Union Railway Minister Pawan Bansal had agreed to allot Rail component factory somewhere in border area and he had written to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal initiate the proposal. Badal however didn’t reply to the letter.
He also reiterated his demand for special industrial package for the border districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilika on the pattern of hilly states for the development of this most backward region. It would also stop the industry’s flight to other states since better concessions would be available within Punjab. He said that SAD-BJP government was opposing his proposal for border areas without offering any tangible logic.
Naresh Goyal DRM Pathankot said that the name of Chakki Bank railway station was changed due to strenuous efforts made by Bajwa. He said that he would also forward the demand for Shatabdi train from Pathankot Cantt railway station.
Others who were present in the function were Raman Bhalla former MLA, Vinay Mahajan, Rumal Chand former MLA, Balbir Fatehpur, Anil Viz and Shanty.