Chandigarh, February 26
Union Railway Budget had a lot for Haryana as Railway Minister Pawan Bansal announced for the state a rail coach factory, a welding plant and several new rail links in the remote Mewat region. Besides, rail connectivity in the state has been boosted by extending trains.

Unlike in other states, there is little criticism of the rail budget in the state. Haryana will be better connected with the rest of the country and state capital Chandigarh. It will also provide for a boost to the trade and industry through new rail lines.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the budget will further speed up development in the state. In terms of specifics, the biggest sop that the state has received is the rail coach manufacturing and maintenance unit at Sonepat, a welding plant at Sampla in Rohtak district, fulfilling the long-standing demand of rail service to Mewat area in southern Haryana.

New rail lines have been introduced. Starting from Delhi, it will and pass through Sohna, Nuh, Firozepur, Jhirka and Alwar. Similarly, Hisar and Sirsa will be connected via Agroha and Fatehabad. Yamunanagar will be linked to state capital Chandigarh via Sadhaura and Naraingarh.

A survey of a railway link will be conducted between Hisar and Fatehabad and Dadri to Harli via Jhajjar and Narwana-Uklana. The state will also see the electrification of the Delhi Sarai Rohilla - Rewari - Palanpur-Ahmedabad, Jakhal Hisar and the Jakhal-Dhuri Ludhiana railway lines.

Haryana will now be better connected to the neighbouring states of Punjab and Rajasthan, both in terms of passenger and goods trains. Bansal has also announced proposals to run some express trains through Haryana. These include Bandra Terminus-Hisar Express (weekly) via Ahmedabad; Kalka - Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (bi-weekly) via Hazrat Nizamuddin, Bhopal, Itarsi; Katra-Kalka Express (bi weekly) via Morinda; Delhi-Ferozepur intercity express via Bathinda and a Delhi-Hoshiarpur Express. Chandigarh -Lucknow Express will be extended up to Patna; Delhi-Bathinda Express up to Fazilka and Dhuri-Hisar/Hisar - Ludhiana Passenger train up to Sirsa.