Jamshedpur: Passengers, especially members of the Sikh community, have welcomed the decision of South Eastern Railway (SER) to introduce a pantry car in Jallianwala Bagh Express, which travels between Tatanagar and Amritsar.

Confirming the decision, senior divisional commercial manager and spokesperson of Chakradharpur railway division Bhasar, said, "We have decided to introduce a pantry car in Jallianwala Bagh Express. The railways will soon issue a notification in this regard."

Jallianwala Bagh Express is a bi-weekly train, which travels between Tatanagar and Amritsar on Monday and Wednesday every week. It takes around 35 hours to cover the distance between the two stations.

All India Sikh Students Federation president Satnam Singh Gambhir, who had initiated a campaign to introduce a pantry car in the Amritsar-bound train, said they were happy with the decision. "Finally our long pending demand has been fulfilled. Numerous passengers who travel to Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on the train will be benefited," added Gambhir.

The Central Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee has been pressing the Union railway minister for the last several years to fulfil their demands. "Besides Sikh outfits, Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahto had also raised the issue on several forums. A pantry car is a must in the train as in its absence passengers are forced to carry their own food or purchase it from different stations," said a functionary of the committee.

Passengers are equally happy. "I travel to Amritsar at least once in two months for business purpose. With the introduction of a pantry car, I will no longer be required to carry food from home," said Paramjeet Singh Bhatia, a trader and resident of Jugsalai

SER officials said the decision for pantry car was taken following a nod from the railway board. "The pantry car in the train is expected to come up in a month or so. It will be notified soon," said a railway official.