JOIN USRail connectivity from Delhi to destinations across the country got a boost as the minister announced 10 new express trains to the capital in the budget proposals for the next financial year.
But the city lost out to the three other metros on additional local trains serving suburban areas and satellite towns. While nine trains will operate from four stations in Delhi, one will operate via Nizamuddin.
“Of the 10 new trains announced in the budget, three each will operate from Anand Vihar and Old Delhi stations. Two trains will operate from Nizamuddin and one will run via Nizamuddin. New trains from Katra will operate from New Delhi railway station,” said a railway official. “The train between New Delhi and Katra will be crucial in connecting the capital with Kashmir in six months,” he added.
But the announcement of new trains in the budget left both the railway officials and commuters who travel between Delhi and its suburban towns disappointed. Only one local train between Delhi and Kurukshetra was announced.
“You just need to travel on these trains to understand the problems. It is difficult to board the train during peak hours,” said Suketu, a resident of Ghaziabad who travels to New Delhi station for work every day.
According to railway officials, sanction of additional coaches would have helped clear the rush. “Currently, most local trains are operating with six coaches. We intend to increase the number of coaches to 12. But we cannot do that due to shortage of new coaches. We are short of around 258 coaches currently,” said Divisional Railway Manager Anurag Sachan.
Currently, 284 local trains are catering to commuters between Delhi and its satellite towns.