MOHALI: Even with an increase in footfalll and the number of trains halting here, Mohali railway station lacks basic passenger amenities like proper drinking water taps, public toiltes and waiting rooms. They are yet to be operational.Incepted in the year 2006, Mohali railway station since then has seen a gradual rise in footfall as well as number of trains halting here. Earlier, only two trains halted at Mohali — Ambala-Morinda Passenger train and New Delhi-Chandigarh Jan Shatabdi Express.Later, Mohali railway station came on global rail link map after Chandigarh-Ludhiana electrified rail link was inaugurated in 2014. It was after then that Mohali railway station was connected directly to other parts of the state.The 112km long project for linking Chandigarh and Ludhiana directly was completed in three phases. The first phase linking Chandigarh and New Morinda on the Sirhind-Nangal line was opened in September 2006. The second phase for the addition of third line between Sahnewal and Ludhiana on the Ambala-Attari line was completed in November, 2012. The third phase linking New Morinda with Ludhiana city was completed in April, 2013, after which Chandigarh-Mohali was connected to other parts of the state.With this, the number of trains halting at the Mohali railway station also increased from two to five as Mohali was connected with Ludhiana, Amritsar, Ferozepur and even Pathankot/ Katra. The footfall which was less than hundred jumped manifolds to cross a figure of 1,000.Now, two trains to Amritsar, one each to Una, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, and Katra/ Pathankot halt at Mohali on daily basis. According to the railway records, Chandigarh-Amritsar Intercity Express carry 300 to 400 passenger daily from Mohali.Mohali MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu said, “Residents of the city have approached me requesting that New Delhi Shatabdi Express must be connected to Mohali railway station as to board the train Mohali residents are forced to leave houses two hours before the departure time of the train from Chandigarh. If the train is connected to Mohali railway station, it will make it easier for residents to enjoy the facility.”Balbir Sidhu also called for the necessity of rail link between Saneta village and Rajpura junction.

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