In a move to enhance railway connectivity in Jharkhand, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday inaugurated the Sahibganj-Howrah Intercity Express via video conferencing. The launch comes ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state and aims to provide more efficient travel options for residents.
The daily train service will cover the 350-kilometre journey between Sahibganj and Howrah in just seven hours, offering passengers an affordable fare of Rs 125. According to the Ministry of Railways, this new service is expected to ease travel for people in the region, offering them a faster and cost-effective transportation option. "Currently, travellers spend Rs 700 to Rs 800 to journey from Sahibganj to Howrah by road. The introduction of this train service will not only simplify travel but also enhance business opportunities and employment in the region," the ministry said.
Another gift to Jharkhand from Railway ministry
In another gift, the railway minister also approved the stoppage of the weekly Anand Vihar - Agartala Tejas Rajdhani Express (20501), which travels from Anand Vihar in the national capital region to Agartala, at Sahibganj station in Jharkhand from Thursday. "Sahibganj will be the first stop of this train in the state, making it the only station in Jharkhand between Bihar and West Bengal where this train will stop. This was the long-standing demand of the people of Jharkhand," the ministry said.
What did Railway Minister say?
Addressing the gathering, Vaishnaw said the Santhal Pargana region has a long history and has made significant contributions to our struggle for independence. "Jharkhand is a large state with a historical culture, and many industries across the country depend on Jharkhand for power supply. If we look at Jharkhand's role in the history of independence, we should remember the contributions made over the last ten years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership," Vaishnaw said.
He further said that ten years ago, the railway budget allocation for Jharkhand was merely Rs 450 crores, but today it has increased to Rs 7,300 crores. This is a 16-fold increase in investment for the development of Jharkhand."
(With inputs from PTI)
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