New Delhi: Railways initiate 9 Sewa Services in 8 States

New Delhi: Indian Railways has always strived to provide convenient and comfortable service to its users. To provide better travel opportunities to passengers who travel to neighboring towns and cities mainly for livelihood and education purposes, the Railways has initiated nine new Sewa Services spread across eight states of India. These daily or six days a week short distance services will be a boon to the daily passengers.

Union Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal along with Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan and Member of Parliament Meenakshi Lekhi, flagged off the inaugural run of Delhi - Shamli Service in an unprecedented ceremony held at New Delhi Railway station on Tuesday. Simultaneously inaugural runs of train services in the other 6 states were also initiated with the flagging off by the dignitaries being received through video conferencing in the respective venues.

Members of Railway Board, General Manager, Northern Railway and Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi Division and other senior officers of Railway Board, Northern Railway and Delhi Division were also present on the historic occasion.

Speaking on the occasion Union Minister Railways Piyush Goyal said that based on the Hub and Spoke concept these trains will provide better rail connectivity between smaller and satellite towns and important cities. Railways is working on how to be an effective engine of growth in the country. The common passengers will greatly benefit from these services. He also shared that Railways is not going to use any new assets in these trains, with efficient planning and by enhancing operational capabilities the lie-over rakes of trains are to be used for short services during the long stationed time between two services. This will not only increase trips but also earn revenue from the otherwise stationed coaches.

Union Minister for Health Harsh Vardhan highly appreciated the work being done in all areas with a special mention of the upgradation of stations in the National Capital Region.

Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Pradhan thanked Indian Railways for focusing its efforts in the state of Odisha. He was pleased that a new train is to connect the erstwhile princely state of Nayagarh with the state capital Bhubaneswar. This is to run on the newly constructed 83-km long railway line between the two cities.

Union Minister of State for Railways Angadi shared that about a quarter of a lakh people travel to Bangalore each day from Tumkur. The Sewa Service will provide them a convenient, efficient and timely way of travel to the city.