The Hindu Business Line : Fillip to infrastructure to boost trade with Pak

Trade route
The reports of the consultants will be taken up for implementation within two months.
Necessary funds would also be provided by Ministries

New Delhi , April 30

The Trade and Economic Relations Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has approved several initiatives for improving trade with Pakistan including upgradation of the infrastructure at Attari and Wagah which at present is inadequate.

A meeting was held in the Prime Minister's Office to expedite action relating to improvement of the infrastructure at Attari Railway Station and Wagah international border in Punjab.

The Prime Minister had earlier announced various initiatives during his visit to Amritsar on March 24 in connection with the launch of the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib Bus Service.

During the meeting, attended among others by the Home Secretary, the Foreign Secretary and the Chief Secretary of Punjab, it was decided that Cabinet approval would be obtained for four-laning of the road from Attari to Wagah. RITES and IL&FS have been appointed Consultants for preparing a comprehensive plan for the upgradation of the Attari Railway Station and Wagah international border.

The reports of the consultants will be taken up for implementation within a period of two months. Necessary funds would be provided by the Ministries of Railways, Home Affairs, Finance and other Ministries concerned.

It was noted that security fencing and construction of road along the railway track and from Attari to the international border are already under implementation. The arrival and departure timings of trains at Attari have been revised to bring down the waiting time.

It was decided that attempts would be made to further reduce the waiting time. The Punjab Chief Secretary assured that the land acquisition required for widening of the road and development of off-port facilities in the hinterland would be taken up on war footing by the State Government.

In particular, widening of the road leading to Attari Railway Station will be completed by June 30, 2006.

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