Rail connectivity between Prayagraj, Varanasi and New Delhi received a boost on Saturday with the launch of a new MEMU train service between Prayagraj Rambagh and Varanasi and the arrival of the sleeper Vande Bharat Express at Prayagraj Junction.
Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and industrial development minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi flagged off the new MEMU service from Rambagh railway station. At Prayagraj Junction, the two ministers also welcomed the sleeper Vande Bharat arriving from Varanasi amid traditional drum beats and celebrations. Addressing a programme at Rambagh railway station, Maurya urged the railway minister to run the Duronto Express between Prayagraj and Mumbai daily instead of its existing twice-a-week schedule. He also sought an increase in the frequency of the Prayagraj-Ahmedabad Superfast Express from once to three times a week. He added that he would personally meet the railway minister and submit a memorandum in this regard. MLA Harshvardhan Vajpayee, district panchayat chairperson Dr VK Singh and DRM Ajay Singh were among those present at the Rambagh programme. At Prayagraj Junction, mayor Ganesh Kesarwani, MLAs Deepak Patel and Surendra Chaudhary, DRM Rajneesh Agrawal, senior divisional commercial manager Hari Mohan and chief public relations officer Dr Shivam Sharma attended the programme. Both have several years of experience in operating MEMU trains. The introduction of the new service would provide additional convenience to passengers travelling on the route, he added.
The monthly season ticket (MST), priced at just ₹ 220, would particularly benefit regular commuters, he added.
Maurya said the growing passenger demand warranted an increase in the frequency of both trains. Nandi said a large number of devotees, students, traders and daily commuters travel between Prayagraj and Varanasi. Manoj Srivastava said he had already been operating the existing MEMU service between Prayagraj and Varanasi.
