JALANDHAR: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday said the foundation for the freight corridor linking Ludhiana to the Kolkata and Mumbai ports would be laid next month.

"A separate third track would be laid between Ludhiana and Kolkata and Mumbai for a dedicated freight corridor so that the industrial hub of Punjab can be connected to the sea ports," Mr. Prasad, who visited the Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala told reporters.

No fare hike

The Railways earned a profit of Rs. 13,000 crore last year and planned to raise this figure to Rs. 20,000 crore this year.

"To generate more profits, the rail fares will not be increased," he said. "We want the Indian Railways, which is number three in the world now, to be at the top in the coming years. A blueprint has already been prepared for this."

At present, the Railways imported components such as wheels for making coaches. But in the coming years, all parts would be manufactured indigenously, Mr. Prasad said.

He ruled out any hike in rail fares after the expected increase in diesel prices.

`Garib Rath'

On the recent protests by employees of the Rail Coach Factory against the proposed privatisation of the facility, he said: "It was sheer misunderstanding on the part of the employees as the Indian Railways would never want to place the profit-making RCF in private hands." He announced a reward of Rs. 30 lakh for RCF employees for their contribution to the progress of the Railways.

Mr. Prasad said `Garib Rath', the air-conditioned coaches at an affordable rate for low and middle-income long distance passengers, would be launched in October. "To keep my promise of launching `Garib Rath' for the poor, work on manufacturing the rake was on both at the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai."

The air-conditioned sleeper class fares of these trains would be about 25 per cent lower than the present fares.

"These will be superfast trains and will be initially introduced between Hazrat Nizamuddin and three destinations of Patna, Bandra and Chennai apart from between Saharsa and Amritsar." To begin with, trains to Patna, Bandra and Chennai would provide weekly services and the train between Saharsa and Amritsar would provide bi-weekly service only.

Facility for trade

Mr. Prasad paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar along with his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and other family members.

He told presspersons that all facilities would be provided to boost trade with Pakistan through the Attari-Lahore rail route.

"If the influx of trade with Pakistan on this route increases in the future, the Railways will provide additional wagons in accordance with the demand."

Upgrading Attari station

Referring to the Attari railway station, he said that it had been decided to upgrade the station to international standards. All facilities available at international airports would be provided at Attari, as it was one of the most important stations.

On the demand of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for a passenger train between Amritsar and Jaganathpuri, Mr. Yadav said the link would be established soon. — PTI, UNI

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