Sources say that direct entry to the railway station from the satellite township of Panchkula has been sanctioned. The project, estimated to cost about Rs 62 lakh, will be the first to be taken up and is expected to begin in about two months.

Tenders for the project, which was under consideration for a long time, are in the process of being floated.

Railway headquarters has also approved of massive expansion of the station, which would enable the railways to run direct long distance trains to southern and eastern cities from Chandigarh.

The upgradation, estimated to cost about Rs 6 crore, is likely to be completed in about an year's time. Under this project, technical and maintenance facilities will be added and the length of the platforms will be increased.

The facilities include a coaching terminal facilities, two "sick lines" for carrying out maintenance and repair work on coaches, a washing line and an additional "shunting neck" to enable locomotives and coaches to switch tracks.

Further, sources inform that the length of the three platforms will be increased to accomodate 21 coaches. The platforms will be extended towards the Ambala end. Presently, platforms No.1 and No.2 can accomodate up to 17 coaches. Platform No 3, which is on the reverse side of platform No 2 is presently not used for passenger trains.

According to a senior railway officer, once these facilities become operational, the first long distance trains which are likely to be run, would connect the city to Mumbai and Howrah.

Once this project is completed, sources say that the task of adding two additional platforms, No.4 and No.5 will be taken up. A direct rail link to Ludhiana is also on the anvil and the tracks on this circuit are likely to be laid alongside the road route, which, railway officials say is the shortest distance between Chandigarh and Ludhiana.

Meanwhile, the task of electrification of the Chandigarh-Ambala rail circuit is already under way and the work of erecting columns has commenced from the Ambala end.

Shatabdi Plus, the much-hyped luxurious express train between Delhi and Chandigarh, which was earlier to be launched on August 15, is now scheduled to be flagged-off on October 2.