Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flags off Kurukshetra-Mathura train

KURUKSHETRA: On the eve of Gita Jayanti celebrations, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday flagged off the Kurukshetra-Mathura Express train. This rail link was a long pending demand of pilgrims to connect cities associated deeply with faith, he said.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu flags off the Kurukshetra-Mathura train from Kurukshetra on Friday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, December 9

On the eve of Gita Jayanti celebrations, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday flagged off the Kurukshetra-Mathura Express train.

It will run five days a week except Saturday and Sunday.

This rail link was a long pending demand of pilgrims to connect cities associated deeply with faith, he said.

At the inaugural function, the minister said the Kurukshetra railway station would also be given a complete facelift with all modern facilities, including escalators and capsule lift.

VIP lounge and lodging facility for the visitors would be among key amenities, he said.

Blaming the previous regimes, Prabhu said Kurukshetra was neglected in terms of tourism promotion and better infrastructure.

He said the better railway connectivity would boost tourism in Kurukshetra which would subsequently open several avenues of employment.

“The BJP government has recognised the potential of tourism in Kurukshetra by organising Gita Jayanti to attract tourists from India and abroad. Centre will continue supporting all initiatives to boost Haryana’s economy,” he said.

Prabhu said the Railway Ministry in collaboration with Haryana Government would soon cover vast tracts of land along rail tracks with mass plantation drive.

He said while the Central government was committed to improving industrial progress in Haryana, the ministry would ensure green-lung here by converting vacant lands into green belts.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar lauded Prabhu’s commitment to make all level crossings in Haryana man-less by constructing over bridges or underpasses.

Khattar said the joint venture between the Railway Ministry and the Haryana Government was working to find solutions for developing railway infrastructure and finding solutions.

He demanded that the new train be named ‘Gita Jayanti Express’ and to run it everyday during key festive occasions.

He also wanted the train’s stoppage at Vrindavan Road railway station.