Kashi Mahakal Express to begin commercial run from Varanasi today

The Kashi Mahakal Express, the third private train of IRCTC, will start from today, February 20, 2020. The train service will link the three Jyotirlinga - Omkareshwar near Indore, Mahakaleshwar, in Ujjain and Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi.

First Kashi Mahakal train will start its journey from Varanasi this afternoon and will reach Indore tomorrow morning on the day of Mahashivratri. This is also the first overnight journey train run by IRCTC.

The train flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, on February 16, 2020, from Varanasi, will cover 1,131 km between Varanasi and Indore via Lucknow and a distance of 1,102 km between Varanasi and Indore via Prayagraj in approximately 19 hours.

Features of the Train

Light devotional music, two dedicated private guards in every coach and only vegetarian meals are some of the features of the fully 3-AC service. The train will run thrice a week between Varanasi and Indore.

IRCTC is a subsidiary of the Indian Railways that handles the catering, tourism and online ticketing operations. Apart from giving high-class facilities, IRCTC is also offering tour packages of Omkareshvar.

Debate/Questions raised

The train became a matter of discussion and debate on the very first day of inauguration after there were reports saying seat number 64 in coach B5 will be a "Reserved Sear for Lord Shiva" in Kashi-Mahakal Express that was launched by PM Modi. The news drew a wordless dig by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Twitter, who posted an image of the preamble to the constitution tagging the Prime Minister's Office.

Later on Monday, IRCTC said a seat was reserved for Lord Shiva in the Kashi Mahakal Express during its inaugural run as a "one-time affair" to seek "blessings" for the success of the new project, as some questioned the move.