Varanasi, Feb 17: For the first time, the Indian Railways has reserved a seat for a deity on a train. The national transporter, which launched its third IRCTC operated train named Kashi Mahakal Express from Varanasi to Indore, has reserved a seat for Lord Mahakal (Lord Shiva) on board.
Speaking to media, Northern Railway spokesperson Deepak Kumar said: "It is for the first time that a seat has been left reserved for a deity."
"One seat in Kashi Mahakal Express (seat number 64 in B5 coach) has been left reserved for Lord Shiva," he said.
"Even a temple has been drawn on the seat to make people aware that the seat is reserved for Lord Mahakal," he said.
IRCTC's Director, Tourism, Rajni Hasija said that the practice would continue beyond the inaugural run.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Kashi Mahakal Express via video conferencing from Varanasi, where he is all launched several projects worth Rs 1,250 crore during the day's visit to his parliamentary constituency.
The third IRCTC train, after the two Tejas Express trains on New Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad routes, the Kashi Mahakal Express will connect three places -- Jyotirlinga-Omkareshwar (near Indore), Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Kashi Vishwanath (at Varanasi).
Also connecting the industrial and educational hub of Indore, with Bhopal, the train will begin its commercial run from February 20.
"The Kashi Mahakal Express will operate three days in a week and it will be a bi-weekly service through the Sultanpur-Lucknow route and a weekly service via the Prayagraj route," Kumar said.
Elaborating on the two routes from which the train will pass every week, Hasija said: "Once the new train starts its regular run from this week, it will depart from Varanasi at 2.45 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday to reach Indore at 9.40 a.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
Similarly, the train will start from Indore at 10.55 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday and will reach Varanasi at 6.00 a.m. the next day. This train will have stoppages at Ujjain, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur and Sultanpur stations in both directions.
Meanwhile, in the weekly service via Prayagraj route, the Kashi Mahakal Express will depart from Varanasi at 3.15 p.m. every Sunday to reach Indore at 9.40 a.m. the next day. On the other way, it will depart from Indore at 10.55 a.m. every Monday and reach Varanasi at 5 a.m. the next day.
"This train will halt at Ujjain, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur and Allahabad stations in both directions," Kumar said.
Explaining the fares of the Kashi Mahakal Express, Hasija said, "Kashi Mahakal Express will follow a dynamic fare structure like the other two Tejas Express trains."
One-way journey from Varnasi to Indore will cost Rs 1,951, inclusive of four meals.
According to the IRCTC officials, the Indore-Varanasi Kashi Mahakal Express will be the first private train that will run overnight and for a comfortable long distance journey, will feature a host of facilities. The IRCTC will serve vegetarian food, and provide housekeeping services, on-board security services and bedrolls.
The IRCTC officials said that passengers will also get complementary insurance of Rs 10 lakh.
The train will have an advance reservation period of 120 days and will only have the general and foreign tourist quotas. The current booking will be available to the passengers on the platform itself after preparation of first chart, four hours to five minutes before the scheduled departure of the train.
To facilitate travel for pilgrims, the IRCTC is also introducing special tour packages for passengers who want to see the pilgrim centres enroute. The tour options are; Mahakal Darshan (Ujjain - Omkareshwar), Bhopal-Sanchi-Bhimbetka, Malwa Jyotrilinga Darshan (Ujjain-Omkareshwar- Maheshwar- Indore) and Bhopal-Sanchi-Bhimbetka-Ujjain. Other tour options include Kashi, Ayodhya and Prayag; Kashi Darshan; Kashi, Prayag, Ayodhya; Kashi and Prayag and only Kashi.
The train has silent features like CCTV cameras, which will be monitored online around the clock from the IRCTC centres, whereas for the first time the IRCTC has brought the marshals in the train for passengers safety and also to make people aware to not smoke inside the train as it has smoke and heat sensors installed in the coaches as well as in the bathroom. For the blind passengers, the train coaches have the seat numbers written in Braille, and the catering staff will be dressed in yellow kurta-pyjamas with a rudraksh malas on their necks to promote the train's theme.
Comments
Congratulations Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College for their Annual Day & a successful event.
We need to bring about unity within all the religions.
We should focus on educating our youth & children to become the leaders of tomorrow.
1 muslim MLA is equal to 100 vokkaligas MLAs. That is why they are scared to give many seats....
Blaming others no use. Our community should take interest to address this major issue by encouraging and supporting the students to join the civil service courses. Giving speech and words do not solve this issue. Congratulation Melkar Womes College management for imparting quality education for the rural female students.
The main problems here not only from Government side!! Muslims have to blame for this!! In Muslims community you can find enough qualified candidates for all those field which mentioned above, but Muslims men after graduating immediately applying for Gulf country, ladies they even for the secure job are not allowed to join, I discuss this matter with many my Muslim friends their opinion same. Muslim organization should bring awareness among their community in this matter, encourage ladies to do the job where they feel safe.
Nothing going to happen. What happened much published Sachar commission report??????
These so called leaders only talk talk talk, ..... the news and photographs appears in the newspaper. Their job finished. please
don't waste others time
We all Hindustanis should come forward please do not count your Religious wise! count Human being wise! my dear great leader, yes sir you are correct, but you said all good do not blame Government or any other Institutions, ask your community get it compete come forward, awake up your citizens.
Just we discuss about Dakshina Kannada District called (Mangalore) very popular district in Great Karnataka, my dear count population wise, Financial wise, you said community almost Top in Top, but Education Wise, Back to Back, could you please Equalize it How many Educational Institutions running your Community??
First up all get it Educated and Competitive then Compete it up and come forward, Very Good Example at Present DK, DC, just learn from him He came from where? how he reached in this position?
My dearest brothers do not blame any one, Blame yourself.
\Try and Try until Success\"
Jai Hindustan
Jai Our Moodi Ji."
Rightly Said Mr riyaz khan well done for your effort to take up this issue. will take up this issue and will fight for our rights in our society.
yes it s true Muslim's are getting less opportunity in SC, we have most talented and well eligible qualified persons in our community still no opportunity for us, India govt should Provide 75% govt seat to us.
Melkar College doing good job by calling guest as our most loved persons. Abdul Riyaz Khan, Abdul Rauf Puthige, SM Farooq, SM Rashid Haji. Most Precious Diamond of our community
well done sir Abdul Riyaz Khan, this people are like pearl of our community, always leading our community in front.
yahh its a major problem in india, Riyaz khan well done for raising voice against this discrimination. all muslim should get united and protest against this.
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