Bhubaneswar, September 10: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off the new modern LHB Rake of Train No. 08445/08446 Bhubaneswar-Jagadalpur-Bhubaneswar, Hirakhand Express, on Friday evening, through video conferencing from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Vaishnaw said, “Prime Minister has been stressing upon the need for bringing about reforms in Railways. The vision is to make a wholesome transformation and not just incremental changes. Our Government is pursuing these projects on an express mode. Every year about Rs 6,000 crore to 7,000 crore. Rupees is being sanctioned in the budget for development of rail infrastructure in Odisha. This Union Government is committed to provide better connectivity and amenities to our esteemed passengers.”
Introducing new modern LHB rakes in Hirakhand Express will provide better and more pleasant journey experience to train passengers, added Vaishnaw.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that special attention is being given by Union Government to this region in the field of developmental of Railway infrastructure and projects.
Hirakhand Express covers its journey of 784 kms from Bhubaneswar to Jagdalpur having stoppages at 21 intermediate stations in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh under East Coast Railway jurisdiction. LHB Coach in Hirakhand Express will provide better comfort and jerk free journey to the passengers. LHB coaches are anti-telescopic, safer, lighter, and more comfortable and jerk free. Replacement of ICF conventional coaches phase wise with LHB coaches is being done from safety point of view. Hirakhand Express will now run with a load combination of 12 coaches as earlier, – one AC two Tier, two AC-3 Tier, four Sleeper Class, three Second Class Seating and two Guard-cum-Luggage & Divyangjan Coaches.
