New Delhi/Tanakpur. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal gifted Tanakpur-Delhi Purnagiri Janshatabdi special train to the people of Uttarakhand. After flagging off the train, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, while addressing the ceremony through video conferencing, said that this was a long-standing demand of the regional people which has been fulfilled today.
With the operation of this train, an easy way to go for the darshan of Maa Purnagiri has become available. With the running of this train, an easy travel facility to go to Delhi has also become available to the people of Uttarakhand. Apart from this, employment opportunities will also increase by promoting regional tourism.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal also mentioned many important projects of Railways regarding Uttarakhand. He informed that the work of construction of Rishikesh-Karna Prayag (125.09 km) new line at a cost of Rs 4200 crore is in progress in Uttarakhand. At the same time, the work of doubling of Haridwar-Laksar section (27 km) has been completed. To strengthen the railway infrastructure in Uttarakhand, an average of Rs 672 crore was allocated per year in 2014-19, which is 259 percent more than the average budget allocation of Rs 187 crore per year till 2009-14.
In the year 2019-20, Rs 903 crore was allocated for railway projects and safety works in Uttarakhand, which is 383 percent more than the average budget allocation of Rs 187 crore per year till 2009-14. In the budget of the year 2020-21, Rs 1780 crore was allocated for railway projects and safety works in Uttarakhand, which is 852 percent more than the average annual budget allocation of Rs 187 crore till the year 2009-14.
Going beyond this, an allocation of Rs 4432 crore has been made for the year 2021-22, which is more than 22 times compared to the average annual allocation of Rs 187 crore for the year 2009-2014. With the completion of the ongoing railway projects in Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand will reach new horizons of development.
Goyal said that in the last few years, remarkable work has been done by the Railways in this area, under which the gauge conversion of Pilibhit-Tanakpur section was completed in the year 2017 and Tanakpur railway station was connected to the broad gauge line.
The section from Delhi to Pilibhit is electrified and electrification work from Pilibhit to Tanakpur (62 km) has also been completed. After inspection by the Railway Safety Commissioner, trains can be run directly on electric engines from Tanakpur to Delhi.
Union Education Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ was present in the program through video link. In the function organized in Tanakpur, MP Ajay Tamta, MP Ajay Bhatt, MP Anil Baluni, besides MLA Kailash Chandra Gahtodi, MLA Pushkar Singh Dhami and MLA Puran Singh Fatryal, member from Railway Board O. & B.D. Purnendu Mishra was also prominently present.
Additional General Manager, North Eastern Railway, Amit Kumar Aggarwal said that from February 27, 2021, 05325 Tanakpur-Delhi Purnagiri Janshatabdi special train will depart from Tanakpur at 11.25 am and reach Delhi at 21.35 pm and 05326 Delhi-Tanakpur Purnagiri Janshatabdi special train will depart from Delhi at 06.10 am. Will reach at 16.10.
This train consists of 02 coaches of generator cum luggage van, 08 of second class chair car and 02 coaches of air conditioned chair car, totaling 12 L.H.B. Coaches will be installed. Aggarwal said that advanced passenger facilities have been provided at Tanakpur station. Divisional Railway Manager, Izzatnagar Ashutosh Pant expressed his gratitude and Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Izzatnagar Neetu conducted the program.
Tags: Indian Railway news, Indian Railways, Piyush goyal, Uttarakhand Tourism
FIRST PUBLISHED : February 26, 2021, 19:14 IST