Title - Railways drafts proposal for supplementary budget

Chandigarh:
Seeking more funds for the facelift of the Chandigarh railway station, the Railways is in the process of drafting a proposal.The budget allocated for the renovation of the paid parking lot at the railway station was around Rs.1.5 crore, but the contractor concerned needs Rs 2 crore to complete the project. The contractor outsourced the work of installing escalators at platform number 2 and 3 said he would not be able to complete the work as the funds allocated for the project was inadequate. Budget negotiations are on with the contractor.Sources in the Railways said the project reports prepared by the officials during the tenure of the former railway minister were inaccurate.The officials admitted that the reports were not up to mark as they did not get ample time to get to know the ground reality.Ambala Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar Kathapal said he had inspected the works at the railway station and the contractors had been instructed to meet the deadlines.He said the Railways was preparing a proposal for a supplementary budget.He said the officials were also mooting a multi-level parking at the station.

No takers for IT industry

Ambala Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar Kathapal said not even a single company was keen on setting up an IT industry in Chandigarh. In the last budget, former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had made an announcement that an IT industry spread over 400 acres would manufacture railway signal links and anti-collision devices. As per records, only 5 per cent of the railway tracks in the country are equipped with the signals.

Inauguration of food court

Ambala Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar Kathapal on Monday inaugurated a food court at the Chandigarh railway station. The project was proposed by former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal. IRCTC chief regional manager
RK Sondh said two more food courts would come up shortly.