Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off two new train services in Gujarat on Friday, including a daily express connecting Sabarmati and Varanasi and a mainline electric multiple unit (MEMU) service linking Sabarmati, Becharaji and Mehsana, aimed at improving inter-state and regional rail connectivity.
The services will be launched through video conferencing on October 30.
The Sabarmati-Varanasi Express is expected to provide a direct rail link for passengers travelling between Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, including devotees visiting the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi.
The MEMU service will offer additional travel options for daily commuters and devotees visiting the Shri Bahuchar Mata Temple at Becharaji in Mehsana district.
According to the railway schedule, train number 12205, Sabarmati-Varanasi Express, will depart from Sabarmati at 5:20 a.m. and reach Varanasi at 6:30 a.m. the following day.
The return service, train number 12206, will leave Varanasi at 5:30 p.m. and arrive at Sabarmati at 8:15 p.m. the next day.
The train will operate daily. In both directions, the express will stop at Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Falna, Marwar Junction, Beawar, Ajmer, Kishangarh, Jaipur, Gandhinagar Jaipur, Bandikui, Mandawar Mahwa Road, Kherli, Nadbai, Bharatpur, Idgah Agra Junction, Tundla Junction, Govindpuri, Subedarganj and Mirzapur.
The second service, the Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU, will connect major stations across North Gujarat, including Chandkheda, Kalol, Kadi, Bhoyani, Katosan Road, Becharaji, Chanasma and Ranuj.
It is expected to benefit students, salaried employees, traders, industrial workers and other daily passengers travelling between Mehsana, Patan and surrounding areas.
The MEMU service will operate in both morning and evening periods.
In one schedule, the train will leave Sabarmati at 6:40 a.m., reach Becharaji at 8:05 a.m. and arrive at Mehsana at 9:45 a.m.
The return service will depart from Mehsana at 4:40 p.m., reach Becharaji at 5:49 p.m. and arrive at Sabarmati at 8:30 p.m.
Under the other schedule, the train will leave Sabarmati at 5:05 p.m. and reach Becharaji at 6:48 p.m. before arriving at Mehsana at 8:25 p.m. The return service will depart from Mehsana at 7:05 a.m., reach Becharaji at 7:50 a.m. and arrive at Sabarmati at 10:20 a.m.
Divisional Railway Manager (Ahmedabad), Ved Prakash, said the two services would strengthen regional and inter-state rail connectivity.
“The Sabarmati-Varanasi Express would provide a convenient travel option for devotees visiting Kashi Vishwanath Dham, while the MEMU service would improve access to the Bahuchar Mata Temple and benefit regular commuters in North Gujarat,” he added.
The services are also expected to facilitate travel for tourists and traders and support economic activity along the routes.
The launch programme at Sabarmati station will be attended by Minister of State Darshana Vaghela, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, MPs Hasmukh Patel and Dinesh Makwana, and MLAs Harshad Patel, Jagdish Vishwakarma and Kaushik Jain, among other dignitaries.
At Becharaji station, MPs Hari Patel, Mayank Nayak, Rajesh Shukla and Chandubhai Sihora, along with MLA Sukhaji Thakor and other officials, are scheduled to attend the programme.
(IANS)
