By Arun Kumar Das
Bhavnagar (Gujarat), Aug 3 (BVI): Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today flagged off three new express train services from Bhavnagar which include Bhavnagar-Ayodhya Express, Rewa-Pune (Hadapsar) Express, and Jabalpur-Raipur Express.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai joined via video conferencing the event which was also graced by Union Ministers Mansukhbhai Mandaviya and Nimuben Bambhaniya.
Speaking at the occasion, Vaishnaw said these three trains are of great importance.
The Bhavnagar-Ayodhya Express will connect culture and devotion and boost trade and tourism in Bhavnagar, he said.
Pune is a major industrial city today and is connected with Rewa, Jabalpur, Satna, and Maihar. This train will be vital for this tribal region too.
He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an emotional bond with the Railways and always emphasizes the development of railways — bringing in new technologies and expanding the network.
Over the last 11 years, the railways have undergone a massive transformation. In this period, 34,000 km of new railway tracks have been built — an average of 12 km per day — something never seen before in history. 1,300 stations are currently under redevelopment, forming the world’s largest station modernization program.
Unlike in foreign countries, where stations and trains are shut down during upgrades, in India this work is progressing swiftly without disruption.
He also announced that a new Porbandar-Rajkot train will start daily operations soon.
A new coach maintenance facility at Ranavav station, the new Saradiya-Wansjaliya railway line, Bhadrakali Gate, a new flyover in Porbandar city, two new Gati Shakti cargo terminals and a new port terminal in Bhavnagar are all in the pipeline.
He also mentioned that the country’s first bullet train from Mumbai to Ahmedabad will begin operations soon. Construction is progressing rapidly, and once operational, the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be just 2 hours and 7 minutes.
Discussing the growing passenger amenities, he said a new Amrit Bharat train has been launched. So far, nearly eight such trains have started. The Amrit Bharat trains have facilities similar to Vande Bharat but come at significantly lower fares, making them affordable for more passengers.
Mandaviya said under the leadership of PM Modi Ji, the country is changing and progressing rapidly. A new India is emerging, and as transformation continues, railways are also undergoing a revolutionary change. With modernization, citizens are now getting timely and well-equipped rail services.
Change in the railway sector is a key part of building a developed India. He added that Saurashtra is a land of saints, sages, and devotion. Through the Ayodhya train, people of this region will now have the blessed opportunity to visit Ram Lalla. He expressed gratitude to the Railway Minister for this initiative.
Bambhaniya, welcomed the Railway Minister and expressed gratitude for this valuable gift to Bhavnagar in the form of this new train. She said this train is like a bridge connecting Bhavnagar’s energy with Ayodhya’s devotion and that it will benefit not just the people of Bhavnagar but also those from surrounding districts.
The Railway Minister also visited the container manufacturing company Aawadkrupa Plastomech Pvt. Ltd. located in Bhavnagar district.
The Union Minister gathered detailed information about the containers being produced at Aawadkrupa Plastomech Pvt. Ltd., located on the Bhavnagar–Rajkot Road, and provided necessary suggestions and guidance.
Bhavnagar is now moving toward becoming a container hub. The container manufacturing company located in Navagam, Bhavnagar, is currently producing around 15 containers per day as per orders.
The company now has the infrastructure in place to manufacture up to 100 containers daily. The Railway Minister closely inspected the entire container manufacturing process and technology and assured that the company will receive all necessary support from the government to meet the growing global demand for containers in the future. (BVI)
