India News | Passengers Rejoice as Chennai Central-Kevadiya Weekly Train Makes Maiden Journey

Chennai, Jan 17 (PTI) Tourists from Tamil Nadu can now take a train to reach the world's tallest statue in Gujarat, as a weekly special train connecting Kevadiya in the western state and Chennai was flagged off on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated eight trains connecting different parts of the country to Gujarat's Kevadiya, where the Statue of Unity of Sardar Patel is located, through video conference mode.

Modi said these trains will boost connectivity to the 'Statue of Unity'. "Today, I am leaving for my home state for the first time after the COVID-19 enforced lockdown was eased. I am very happy to travel by this train", a passenger said in a video recorded by Southern Railway and shared on its official social media account.

Commemorating the launch of the service, train ticket examiner (TTE) of the special train distributed 'souvenir tickets' to passengers, which provided information of the 'Statue of the Unity' to the tourists.

The PM also paid rich tributes to AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran on the 104th birth anniversary of the late chief minister as he mentioned the train connecting Kevadiya to Chennai. "It is a happy coincidence that today is the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna MGR. From movie screen to political screen, MGR ruled the hearts of people.

His life, his entire political journey was dedicated to the poor," Modi said. In view of the inaugural, the train was decked up with flowers and elaborate arrangements were made at the Dr M GR Chennai Central Railway Station. The weekly superfast train would have a composition of one air conditioned two tier coach, three tier air-conditioned coaches, one luggage cum brake van and one generator cum power car.

The train would be operated on Wednesdays and Sundays, Southern Railway said in a press release. The train leaving Puratchithalaivar Dr M G R Chennai Central Railway Station would halt at Renigunta, Cudappah, Guntakal, Raichur, Solapur, Pune, Kalyan, Vasal Road, Surat and Vadodara. PTI VIJ

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