Statue of Unity gets more tourists than Statue of Liberty, says PM; new train for Chennai

NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI/AHMEDABAD, JAN 17

More tourists visit the Statue of Unity in Gujarat than the Statue of Liberty in the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, adding almost 50 lakh tourists have visited the former since it opened two over years ago.

Watch Live! https://t.co/adcXkQ7aKE

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 17, 2021

These trains will connect Kevadia to Varanasi, Dadar, Ahmedabad, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Rewa, Chennai, and Pratapnagar.

A historic day! Inaugurating various projects relating to Railways in Gujarat. #StatueOfUnityByRail https://t.co/IxiVdLfFdQ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 17, 2021

In his address after flagging off eight trains to Kevadia from across India via video conferencing, Modi said that with increased connectivity over a lakh people will visit Kevadia daily, as per a survey.

Kevadiya station is India’s first railway station with a Green Building Certification.

A section of audience at Dr MGR Chennai Central function today as Hon'ble @PMOIndia flagged off the inaugural special of Chennai – Kevadiya Express thru VC#StatueofUnitybyRail pic.twitter.com/dZAwLlp19r

— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) January 17, 2021

Chennai-Kevadia train connectivity

Bon voyage!

Passenger on maiden trip to #StatueOfUnityByRail by Chennai – Kevadiya Express inaugural special thanks Railways for the new train service @RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/eY1qS80WiQ

— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) January 17, 2021

The inaugural run of the new Chennai – Kevadiya Superfast Weekly Special Train from Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Chennai Central Railway Station was flagged off  at 11.12 am by the Prime Minister in the  virtual presence of  Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Railways, Commerce & Industries, Consumer Affairs, and Food & Public Distribution, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Union Minister for External Affairs, and distinguished Ministers and Elected representatives of Tamil Nadu.

Today, one of the trains leaving for Kevadia is coming from Purchachi Talavar Dr. MG Ramachandran Central Railway Station. It is a happy coincidence that today is the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratan MG Ramachandran: PM @narendramodi #StatueOfUnityByRail

— PIB in Tamil Nadu (@pibchennai) January 17, 2021

Modi paid tributes to AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran as he mentioned the train connecting Kevadia to Chennai, which was flagged off from MGR Chennai Central station.

“It is a happy coincidence that today is the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna MGR. From movie screen to political screen, MGR ruled the hearts of people. His life, his entire political journey was dedicated to the poor.

“He worked continuously so that the poor could get a respectful life. We all are working to fulfil the ideals of Bharat Ratna MGR. Only a few years ago, the Chennai Central Railway Station was named after MGR. I offer my tributes to MGR,” he said.

Modi inaugurated the Statue of Unity, billed as the world’s tallest, in October 2018 on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 143rd birth anniversary.

Regular Service of Train No. 09120/09119 Kevadiya – Dr. MGR Chennai Central -Kevadiya Weekly Superfast Special Train to commence:
ex. Kevadiya w.e.f 20th Jan 2021
ex. Dr MGR Chennai Central w.e.f 24th Jan 2021#SRupdates 2/2 pic.twitter.com/6ETgqud6wQ

— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) January 15, 2021

Besides tourists visiting the Statue of Unity, locals will be the biggest beneficiary of the new rail connectivity, Modi said. Even the pilgrims visiting a few centres located in the region will get the benefit of new trains to Kevadia, he added.

“Today, Kevadia is no longer a small block located in a remote area of Gujarat but is emerging as the world’s biggest tourist destination. More people have started visiting the Statue of Unity compared to the Statue of Liberty. After its inauguration, nearly 50 lakh people have visited it.

“Despite everything remaining closed for months during coronavirus pandemic, the number of tourists visiting Kevadia is increasing fast,” Modi said.

“It is estimated in a survey that as the connectivity increases, over one lakh people will visit Kevadia daily. A small, beautiful Kevadia is a good example of how economy and ecology can both be developed in a planned manner while saving the environment,” Modi said.

“Tourists visiting the Statue of Unity will get the benefit of this rail connectivity, but this connectivity is going to change the lives of people of Kevadia. It will bring new opportunities for employment and self-employment,” he said.

“This rail line will also connect important places of faith like Karnali, Poicha, and Garudeshwar. And the entire region is indeed filled with spiritual vibration. And with this facility, it is a big gift for those who generally visit here for spiritual reasons,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Sunday flagged off eight trains connecting different parts of the country to Kevadia in Gujarat, recalled his slow speed journeys on narrow gauge trains of yore.

Speaking after the event, Modi said old memories of train travel became fresh after flagging off the trains.

“Very few people may be aware of the Baroda (Vadodara) to Dabhoi narrow gauge line. I used to travel by this narrow gauge line. The funny thing in that journey was the train used to be so slow that you could alight and get in at any place, very comfortably,” Modi said.

“In fact, for some moments, you could walk along with the train and you felt your (walking) speed was more than the train. I also used to enjoy this sometimes,” Modi said, adding the stretch is being converted into broad gauge.

The Ahmedabad-Kevadia Jan Shatabdi Express, one of the eight trains, has been equipped with the ”Vista-dome tourist coach” which offers large viewing areas with rooftop glasses and seats for passengers.

Modi also inaugurated the Dabhoi-Chandod converted broad gauge railway line, ChandodKevadia new broad gauge rail line, newly electrified PratapnagarKevadia section, and the new station buildings of Dabhoi, Chandod, and Kevadia.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, and his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath joined the event via video link.

REGULAR SERVICE OF TRAIN NO.09120 / 09119 KEVADIYA – CHENNAI – KEVADIYA WEEKLY SUPERFAST SPECIAL TRAIN

Regular Service of Train No. 09120/09119 Kevadiya – Dr. MGR Chennai Central – Kevadiya Weekly Superfast  Special Train is as follows:

With a composition of One– AC 2 Tier, Four– AC 3 Tier Coaches, Seven– Sleeper Class Coaches, Four– General Second Class Coaches, One– Luggage Cum Brake Van and One– Generator cum Power Car, Train No. 09120 Kevadiya – Dr. MGR Chennai Central Weekly Superfast Special Train will leave Kevadiya at 09.15 hrs on Wednesdays with effect from 20^th January, 2021 and reach Dr. MGR Chennai Central at 16.00 hrs on thursdays until further advice

Train No. 09120 Kevadiya – Dr. MGR Chennai Central Superfast Weekly Special Train will have additional stoppage at Perambur

In the return direction, the regular run of Train No.09119 Dr. MGR Chennai Central – Kevadiya Superfast Weekly Special Train will leave Dr. MGR Chennai Central at 22.30 hrs on Sundays with effect from 24^th January, 2021 and reach Kevadiya at 03.00 hrs, on Tuesdays until further advice.

These trains will have a revised composition of one additional AC 3-Tier instead of one Sleeper Class Coach on and from 3^rd March from Kevadiya and on and from 7^th March from Chennai.

Advance Reservation for the above train are open from Southern Railway End.