Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu announced to intensify 24-hour patrolling along the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and significantly expand surveillance coverage by deploying drones as well.
The Minister, who visited the last night blast site near the Shambhu-Rajpura rail track in Patiala district and reviewed the security situation along the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, stated in a press conference, later, that there are indications of external involvement to destabilize the region by targeting critical infrastructure such as railways.
Appreciating the alertness of the loco pilot, who promptly halted the train upon sensing the impact, thereby preventing a potentially larger mishap, said special attention will be given to secure the secluded and vulnerable sections of the corridor.
This is the second such incident within three months in Punjab when such a blast has been attempted to disrupt rail traffic on the Corridor.
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, which connects Sahnewal in Ludhiana with West Bengal, is a vital economic artery, with approximately 30 trains operating daily, transporting industrial and agricultural goods. Any disruption to this network poses a setback to the state and national economy.
