AMRITSAR: Doing a U-turn from his earlier statement in which he had criticized the UPA government for giving Punjab a raw deal in the rail budget, Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday took credit for getting various railway projects sanctioned to Punjab.
Completely at variance with his earlier statement, Sidhu said it was largely because of his untiring efforts that Punjab had managed to get three new trains – from Amritsar to Chandigarh, Amritsar to Hoshiarpur and Amritsar to Kolkata – besides other railway projects.
“Punjab has been neglected for more than 60 years, but it is because of my repeated representations to the Centre that these trains have been allotted to Punjab,’” he said.
The MP said he was happy with it but not fully satisfied. “It is half the battle won, as Punjab has got something after long. But I will be satisfied only when the railways gives Punjab its due – the freight corridor extension to Amritsar, up to Attari,” he said.
He said his protest would continue till the time the freight corridor was extended to Amritsar. “Since the integrated check post worth Rs 150 crore is coming up at Attari, it is the government’s responsibility to provide connectivity to the town,” Sidhu said.
He expressed concern at Punjab not having been included in the Industrial Corridor Project, saying the Centre was indifferent to the state. He said he would take up the matter of allotting water bottling plant and a sports academy to Punjab besides getting world-class status for the Amritsar railway station.
SOURCE-HT
