The Department of Railways has done it for the second time after Antagard train service
Raipur
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday expressed shock that he was not even informed about the Nagpur-Bilaspur bound Vande Bharat Express which was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 11 at Nagpur railway station. To be mentioned, the semi-high-speed train has more halts in Chhattisgarh than Maharashtra. The train has four stoppages – Gondia in Maharashtra, Rajnandgaon, Durgand Raipur in Chhattisgarh – between Nagpur and Bilaspur.
Talking to media before boarding the helicopter in Raipur for his ‘Bhent-Mulaqat programme in Mahasamund’s Basnaconstituency, the Chief Minister said that the Department of Railways had done it for the second time after he was ignored during the train operation from Antagarh.
It is a welcome step to start the new rail service, but he should have been invited for the same as it is connected to Chhattisgarh, said the chief minister.
The railways department is not evening sending a letter to the chief minister informing the development taking place in the state as far as new train services are concerned, he said.
The chief minister also said the fare is so high the common man cannot board it. The trains that are affordable for common man has been cancelled, the chief minister lashed out at the government of India.
The chief minister said that 30-40 trains remained closed for months. Then not a word came out of the mouth of the MP and former Chief Minister. When a train started, it lifted the entire Chhattisgarh on their heads.
Firstly, the fare should be reduced and secondly, why are their MPs silent on the 40 trains which have been stopped, said the chief minister.
The Vande Bharat train was given a grand welcome on reaching Rajnandgaon on Monday. Former Chief Minister Raman Singh, BJP State President Arun Sao, MP Santosh Pandey welcomed the Vande Bharat train here. A large number of people were present at the railway station on this occasion.
This is the sixth Vande Bharat train of the country. This train will run between Nagpur to Bilaspur.
Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express will run for 6 days a week. This journey will be completed in 6 hours. Earlier, the Vande Bharat Express was flagged off on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route in October. The government aims to operate 75 Vande Bharat Express trains by next year.
IRCTC has fixed separate fare for chair car and executive class, which is four times more than normal trains. In the train, the fare of chair car from Bilaspur to Nagpur has been fixed at Rs 1070 equal to AC II. And the fare for traveling from Bilaspur to Nagpur in executive class is Rs 2045. Similarly, the fare for Vande Bharat train from Bilaspur to Raipur has been fixed at Rs470 for chair car and Rs 905 for executive class. Passengers will have to spend Rs 635 and 1155 from Bilaspur to Durg, Rs 690 and 1265 from Bilaspur to Rajnandgaon, Rs 865 and 1620 from Bilaspur to Gondia.
