NEW YEAR GIFT TO HARYANA: Rewari -Rohtak via Jhajjar rail link inaugurated

Jalandhar, January 8, 2013:  Haryana today got a new year gift in the shape of new railway line connecting historic towns of Rewari and Rohtak via Jhajjar.

The Union Minister of State for Railways KJ Surya Parkash Reddy and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda dedicated this railway line to the people of Haryana and flagged of a special train from Rewari Junction.

This new railway line will not only link southern and northern parts of Haryana but will serve as a significant link to connect capitals of two states namely Jaipur of Rajasthan with Chandigarh of Haryana.

The state of Haryana got this new railway line after a long gap of 33 years. The last railway line connecting Bhiwani with Rohtak was laid in 1979. The new broadgauge link between Rewari and Rohtak through 81.257 kilometers   railway line will reduce traveling distance by nearly 50 kilometers with corresponding reduction in travel time. It has cost Rs 602 crore, out of which half of the cost has been shared by Haryana.

The new rail route has five stations-Gokalgarh, Palhawas, Maccharauli, Jhajjar and Dighal. Covering the three districts of Rewari, Jhajjar and Rohtak, the rail line would benefit residents of 41 surrounding villages which fall in two parliamentary constituencies and eight assembly segments.

Greeting the people of Haryana with new year wishes, the Chief Minister Hooda also conveyed his thanks to the Union Minister of state for railways Reddy and said that with laying of this new rail line, the long cherished dream of this area has been fulfilled. For this, he gave credit to UPA chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Hooda recollected that the foundation of this project was laid by Sonia Gandhi on October 7, 2007.  This line has not only connected historic town  of Rewari with Rohtak and Chandigarh but also with Kandla dry port on western sea cost. This would not only help in economic and social upliftment of people living in this region but would also pave way for progress in the entire state.

While conveying his heartiest thanks to Reddy, Hooda said that his father Vijay Bhaskar Reddy was MP with me and now KJ Surya Parkash Reddy and Deepender Singh Hooda both are MPs.

Hooda supported the demand of some new railway projects for Haryana and said that the state government is ready to pay its share. At the same time, he emphasized and requested the Union Minister to start a Shatabdi Express train between Jaipur and Chandigarh.

Hooda said that the new rail line would usher in industrial development in the area along it. Referring to the development of Rewari district, Hooda said that during INLD-BJP regime from 1999-2005, an amount of Rs. 435.48 crore was spent in Rewari assembly area while after 2005, when present congress government came into power, Rs. 3169.43 crore have been spent which is more than seven times the expenditure made by INLD-BJP government. Similarly, an amount of Rs. 131.21 crore was spent in Bawal assembly by INLD-BJP, whereas the present government has spent Rs. 756.43 crore. In Kosli assembly, Rs. 101.28 crore were spent in Chautala’s regime while now an amount of Rs. 744.96 crore has been spent during congress government’s tenure. Regarding demand of raising the status of Mirpur regional center into a University, Hooda said that he would consider this also at opportune time, as he had set up Sainik School in this area, which was a long pending demand of the people. Striking a chord with the people in their dialect, Hooda said, “ Jis Tarah Aaj Rail Chali Hai, Usi Prakar Vikas Ki Rail Bhi Chalegi, Bahut Tezi Se Chalegi” meaning thereby as a new train has started, in the similar way development would be expedited.  

Hooda and Union Minister boarded the train and traveled in it from Rewari to Rohtak. On every railway station on the way, they were accorded a rousing welcome by large number of people gathered over there.

Earlier, Minister of state for railways KJS Parkasha Reddy said that Indian railways is one of the worlds largest railways system with 63000 route kms. It carries nearly 2 crore 30 Lakh passengers per day. He congratulated  VK Gupta, GM Northern Railways and his team for this rail project and announced an award of Rs 3 lakh for them. He assured that  Indian railways will futher take into consideration the needs of the people of Haryana region and try to expand and improve the railway infrastructure in close association with the state government of Haryana.

Deepender Singh Hooda, Rohtak MP, said that the new railway line has not only connected Rewari with Rohtak but also linked eight assembly constituencies which, according to him, play significant role in deciding the politics of the state. He said that the staff of Ministry of Railway had been very positive throughout the project. Lashing out at the opposition, the younger Hooda said that in future there will be clash between two ideologies. One is of development which the present Congress government practices and the other is of vested interests as practiced  by the opposition parties. Supporting the demand of starting Shatabdi Express between Jaipur and Chandigarh, he  said that this new railway line would accelerate the pace of development. He demanded to develop railway stations of Rewari  and Rohtak as Model Railway Stations like that of stations of state capitals.

Haryana Power Minister, Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav said that this new railway line has been commissioned due to the efforts of Chief Minister and MP Deepender Singh Hooda. This line would be helpful for the students as the traveling time to MD University, Rohtak would be reduced. He also raised a number of demands including running of Shatabdi Express train from Jaipur to Chandigarh.

The president of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee Phool Chand Mullana and MD Northern Vijay Kumar Gupta also addressed on the occasion.