April 13, 2002

'23'

PRIME MINISTER TO INAGUARATE RAILWAYS 150 YEARS CELEBRATIONS

JAN-SHATABDI FARE FOR MUMBAI-GOA Rs. 272

    Indian Railways, the second largest in the world and the lifeline of the country, is entering the 150th year of its operation on April 16, 2002. The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee will inaugurate the Nation-wide celebrations at the National Rail Museum here by releasing a ‘mascot" and ‘logo’ specially designed for the 150th year on Monday, April 15,2002.

    To mark the historical occasion, a number of programmes have been planned across the Zonal Railways apart from the main functions in the capital and Mumbai from where the first train on the Indian soil was flagged off on 16th April 1853.

    In the morning on 16th April, the Railway Minister Shri Nitish Kumar, in the august presence of other dignitaries, will flag off the first Jan-Shatabdi train from Mumbai to Madgaon. It may be recalled that the Railway Minister while presenting the Railway Budget 2002-03, has announced introduction of 16 Inter city service trains named Jan-Shatabdi trains. The booking for this train has already started. The fare for the 572 kilometre journey has been kept at Rs.272/- for non-AC Chair Car and Rs.800 for AC Chair Car including catering charges. The train will run six days in a week.

    Coming back to the celebrations, in the same afternoon, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Communication & Information Technology, Shri Pramod Mahajan will be releasing a commemorative stamp on 150 years of Indian Railways. The day-long celebration will culminate with flagging off of a heritage steam train by the Railway Minister from Mumbai to Thane to recreate the ambience and nostalgia of the first rail journey in India on the same day in 1853. Zonal Railways will be organising similar heritage steam runs to create the spirit of celebration of 150 years of Railways.

    A second National Rail Museum has been inaugurated by the Railway Minister, Shri Nitish Kumar in Chennai as part of the celebrations.

    Some of the other highlights of the celebrations include Exhibition on Wheels, Special Seminars, illumination of Railway Stations and Buildings, honouring oldest living railway employees etc.