DEMAND: Introduce high speed bullet train between Ludhiana -New Delhi

Ludhiana, December 24, 2012: Avtar Singh, General Secretary, CICU in a statement released today said that one of the bottlenecks for the growth and development of Industrial Centre, Ludhiana is the lack of High End Connectivity between Amritsar-Ludhiana-Delhi.  These Industrial Cities are located at far off distance from Seaports,  therefore, High Speed Connectivity between them and Major Metro Cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, is essential to promote trade and industry in the region.

Upkar Singh Ahuja, Joint Secretary, CICU said that Air Connectivity with Ludhiana is neither sufficient nor affordable for Micro and Small Industrialists.  Air Service between Ludhiana-Delhi is available on every alternate day and the current Economy Class Fare is about Rs. 4,914 for one side travel (Ludhiana-Delhi).   Inspite of being Ludhiana as Industrial Hub of Northern Hinterland, it does not have good connectivity between Ludhiana and New Delhi. 

Compared to Chinese Bullet Train covering over 1,300 kilometers distance in less than 4 hours running at speed of 350 kms per hour connects Beijing with China’s most Industrialised Province Guandong which houses top developed city such as Guangzhou close to Hong Kong and Maccau.  On the contrary, the Indian High Speed Shatabi Train covers 312 kilometers distance between Ludhiana – New Delhi in more than 4 hours i.e. runs at a speed of 78 kilometers per hour.

Both of them have appealed and urged upon Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister and Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister for Railways for introduction of High Speed Bullet Trains between Amritsar- New Delhi with stoppage at Ludhiana to boost trade and industry. 

They further said that Railway fare for this special train can be priced to meet the demands of different segments of the society which can fluctuate as per market forces.