Connecting Kotdwar with the national capital, Indian Railways has launched a Jan Shatabdi service catering to the demand of the region.
Flagging off the Kotdwar-Delhi Junction-Kotdwar Sidhbali Jan Shatabdi Special train through video conferencing, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said the service would bring socio economic development in Uttarakhand.
Expressing his gratitude to the hard-working railway employees who served the country during the pandemic by supplying medicines, coal and other necessary essential items, Goyal said that Kotdwar-Delhi route electrification is almost complete, only 15 km stretch is pending which is expected to be completed by this month.
After this, trains on electric traction will ply from Kotdwar to Delhi. It will also save the environment. Going forward all the trains will run on electric traction in the entire Uttarakhand region. This will ensure net zero carbon emission and protection of the environment in the State.
He also informed that railway projects in Uttarakhand are progressing well. Rs 4,432 crore has been allocated for railway projects in the budget 2021-22 which is almost 23 times more than the average budget of 2009-14 for the state.
The three new lines projects are underway in Uttarakhand, the work of the railway line between Rishikesh and karnprayag is progressing swiftly. Station development of Dehradun is planned at the cost of Rs 212 crore. Prime Minister’s attention on Uttarakhand is the driving force behind the development that is sweeping the state.
Pilgrims visiting Sidhbali temple shall be benefited with improved connectivity.
The Kotdwar -Delhi Siddhabali Jan Shatabdi Express Daily Special train shall depart from Kotdwar at 3.50 PM and shall reach Old Delhi at 10.20 PM daily.
The Old Delhi – Kotdwar Sidhbali Jan Shatabdi Express train shall depart from Old Delhi at 7 AM and shall reach Kotdwar at 1.40 PM daily.
This train has LHB Coaches which includes AC Chair Car, Chair Car coaches and two Generator coaches. It shall have stoppages at Najibabad, Muazzampur Narain, Bijnor, Haldaur, Chand Siau, Mandi Dhanaura, Gajraula, Hapur, Ghaziabad enroute in both directions.
On Wednesday, the train is being run as the inaugural Special Train.
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and other dignitaries were present at the event site.
Meanwhile, the Railways has accorded permission to Zonal Railways to decide on reopening of retiring rooms at stations.
They should keep in view local conditions including Covid related protocols, railways said in a statement.
These conveniences were discontinued post announcement of lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID 19.