KUMBAKONAM, OCT 29
Religious fervor and jubilant mood prevailed at the reception accorded to Ahmedabad-Trichy Special at Kumbakonam on Friday night. Rail users accorded warm reception to the new special train from Ahmedabad to Trichy which reached Kumbakonam at 12.40 midnight. This train left Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Recently, the railways have announced to run half a dozen long-distance festival special trains in view of increased passenger rush and demand. This includes Ahmedabad-Tiruchirapalli superfast AC special (09419), Tiruchirapalli-Ahmedabad superfast AC special (09420).
- This train has fulfilled the long felt demand for a direct train connectivity to Mumbai and Gujarat from Delta district.
- It connects Dwaraka Jyothirlingam Shrine near Ahmedabad with other important religious places at Mantralayam in Karnataka, Renigunda near Tirupathi, Chidambaram, Vaithiswarankoil, Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam, Papanasam, Thanjavur and Trichy in Tamil Nadu.
- Natives of Gujarat settled in various places along the age old Main line will get a direct train to visit their home towns.
- This train also provide first time connectivity to the Textile Hub at Surat from Main Line.
The speciality of this train is that it connects various pilgrimage sites in Gujarat with many temple town in South like Mantralayam, Tirupati and Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. Tourists from South can visit the Statue of Unity at Kevadia near Vadodara, a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While on the advise of Sri Subedentra theertha swamiji -Head of Mantralayam Sri Raghavendra Mutt, representatives from Shree Vijayeendra Swamivaru Mutt at Kumbakonam adorned floral garland brought from Srirangam to the locomotive and offered prasadams to the train crew members, natives of Gujarat settled at Kumbakonam – mostly labourers, were jubilant to receive the ‘new guest’.
They are happy to get a direct train to visit their home towns.
Loco Pilots Stanley Abraham and Selva Vinayagam were honoured with a shawl and prasadams from Sri Vijayeendra Swami Mutt.
This train has fulfilled the long felt demand for a direct train connectivity to Mumbai and Gujarat from the Delta district.
It connects Dwaraka Jyothirlingam Shrine near Ahmedabad with other important religious places at Mantralayam in Karnataka, Renigunda near Tirupathi, Chidambaram, Vaithiswarankoil, Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam, Papanasam, Thanjavur and Trichy in Tamil Nadu.
This train also provide first time connectivity to the Textile Hub at Surat from Main Line.
Natives of Gujarat settled in various places along the age old Main line will get a direct train to visit their home towns.
Since this train pass through major religious centers, it may be named as “Bakthi Express” feel rail users.
Giri, Secretary, TANDRUA, V.Sathyanarayanan, Secretary, Federation of Kumbakonam all Industrial and Trader Associations, Narasimhan, Manager, Sri Vijayeendra Swami Mutt, Vishnu Balaji of Raghavendra Swami Mutt, Sathish, President North Thanjavur District President BJP, T. Saravanan, DRUCC member were among those who participated in the reception event.
