Varanasi: Amidst the joy of festivals, Railways has given such a gift of speed and convenience to the people of Kashi, which is going to change the picture of rail travel. Before Diwali and Chhath festival, on the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Varanasi got the gift of three new rail services. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, Banaras-Prayagraj Rambagh MEMU and Banaras-Rajatalab MEMU services in the presence of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav. The Chief Minister expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister for the gift of Vande Bharat Sleeper Train.
The Chief Minister said that earlier it used to take 13 to 14 hours to reach Delhi from Varanasi, but now this distance will be covered in just 8 to 9 hours by Vande Bharat Sleeper. This means that a new era of time saving and travel comfort will begin. Referring to the future Bullet Train project, he said that the dream of covering the distance from Delhi to Kashi in just three and a half hours will also come true.
Month long journey for Rs 95, relief to common man
The Chief Minister described MEMU trains as a big relief for the common passengers. According to him, the cost of a month's journey from Banaras to Rajatalab will be only Rs 95 and from Banaras to Prayagraj will be Rs 220. This will directly benefit students, advocates, businessmen and people who commute daily. The Chief Minister said that the Railways is providing safe travel for a month at an amount equal to the daily expenses on tea and drinks.
Rejuvenation of Railways, 157 stations got a new look
Yogi Adityanath said that all the railway lines in Uttar Pradesh have been broad gauge and electrified. Overbridges and underpasses have been built in place of unmanned railway crossings. 157 railway stations of the state have been equipped with modern facilities. He claimed that Uttar Pradesh is now getting 18 times more railway budget than the previous governments.
business will gain momentum
The Chief Minister said that more than one thousand kilometers of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor passes through Uttar Pradesh. Due to this, goods transportation has become faster and organized and traders are getting benefits.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi joined the program through virtual medium. In Kashi, ministers Anil Rajbhar, Dayashankar Mishra Dayalu, Ravindra Jaiswal, Hansraj Vishwakarma, Mayor Ashok Tiwari, District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya, Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar, public representatives, officials and a large number of citizens were present. New pace of development will run on the tracks of Kashi, Vande Bharat