Chandigarh-Ambala rail route inspected

The team also scrutinised the 25 KV overhead installations energised recently, which draw power from the Dhulkot power station near Ambala.

Railway officials said the on-going electrification of the 25-km Chandigarh-Kalka route was expected to be completed by March next year. Total cost of the project is about Rs 30 crore.

Till the Kalka-Chandigarh section is electrified, only the Shatabdi Express, arriving here from Dehli at 10.40 a.m., which departs on its return leg at 12.20 p.m., will be hauled by electric locomotives. This will reduce the journey time between Chandigarh and Delhi by about 25 minutes.

Electrification of the Ambala-Chandigarh section was completed by mid-August. The railways had run electric locomotives on trial basis but final certification from the CRS was being awaited.