Northern Railway GM inspects Kalka railway station, reviews passenger facilities
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Chandigarh: Ashok Kumar Verma, general manager of Northern Railway, conducted a detailed inspection of Kalka Railway Station on Saturday as part of a two-day review under the Ambala division. The inspection aimed to evaluate passenger amenities, security measures, and ongoing construction work under the Amrit Station Scheme.
The GM also visited the Kalka Narrow Gauge Workshop and assessed various passenger-centric services including drinking water availability, catering stalls, restrooms, toilets, cleanliness, security, and the overall condition of the parking area. With the summer travel rush approaching, he emphasised the need for enhanced preparedness and comfort for passengers.
During his visit, Verma inspected the newly introduced Vistadome coaches operating on the Kalka-Shimla heritage route. He recommended resuming operations of the iconic Rail Motor Car from 8 am to 12 noon and proposed increasing train frequency in the Kalka-Shimla section to accommodate growing tourist and commuter traffic.
Interacting with railway employees, Verma appreciated the progress made so far and urged them to maintain momentum to ensure timely completion of infrastructure upgrades at the station.
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Earlier, during a separate inspection through window trailing on train number 12925 — the Mumbai-Amritsar Paschim Express — Verma reviewed onboard passenger services, including catering, cleanliness, and security arrangements.
At Chandigarh junction, which is being redeveloped into a world-class station, the GM held a review meeting with officials from the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA). He directed them to ensure timely implementation of the master redevelopment plan, which is expected to be completed by Oct 2025.
Divisional railway manager of Ambala Division Vinod Bhatia and other senior officers accompanied the GM during the inspections. The visit underlined Indian Railways' commitment to enhancing travel experience through improved infrastructure and upgraded passenger amenities.
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