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.
Mangaluru, Feb 7: In a shocking revelation, a 19-year-old girl has lodged a complaint against a priest of Sri Durga Parameshwari temple, Kateel, accusing him of raping and threatening to kill her.
Comments
If it is so, why did'nt she came out when the incident took place.
If she was scared then, how she became bold now?
Such kind of blacksheep are found in all religions.
And if the priest is guilty then he must be punished as per law of the land.
I was just trying to think what kind of punishment we can give to this rapist.....first and foremost thing is his wife has been committed suicide...for that he did not get punishment....now raped this girl....she will have to face the society with baby which will come up in the near future....
best punishment for this crime is \hang him till death\""
Backstabbing the nation is the biggest crime. This is apparently not a rape. This is consensual sex. May be that woman is used as a bait by anti nationals.
Dear Viren , After this also do you think he is nationalist ? To become natiolist they should qualify by this type of test? Acche Din Already as promised!!!
.............ne walon ko parameshwari ma ke temple mein kue bitaya....
Looks like the troll,who tell this as their internal matter is hand in gloves with the priest or the blackmailer....he must be grilled
Ha Ha Ha Ha...This is called Viren Joke...Viren please list the people and the Crime which belong to ur Internal onces.So that no one in future will Comment on them.
One is Cleared RAPE and RAPIST is ur Internal.NEXT....
stone him to death if he is really a rapist
shame on u, dont call him priest please for god sake.
look at his face, by seeing his face only we can make out he s big proud, should enquir him properly. he stolen many gold jewellery from temple.
now a days for personal grudge some people will do like this. please enquiry on to this simply putting accused photo without clarification its against the law :)
Mr. Kotian Saheb, those who are raping women and those who are supporting these rapists are National, and those who are opposing these evil act are anti national.
Never mind we are anti national for those Desh aur dharm drohi's.
Women is our mother and our sisters.
this kind of human should be banned to enter temple. really black dot of society,
this should be stone to death if allegation against him are true.
No Bajarangi is speaking exept Kotian ? It is his internal matter,
Does Kotian will give the unborn chid his name as father ?
every religion priest are same. they do one thing and tell us to do other things. they only not following which s must.
Why people started screaming. This is our internal matter. anti nationals need not to interfere.
Temple Priest again....
Those who are intelligent should understand surely its not a divine place were many priest are caught in such evil acts specailly with girls.. If girls are not active & did not recognize the DIVINE option of COVERING their beauty to strangers... More of such incidents will follow in near future by these evil innocent looking foxes...
Now be careful ladies.... you are asking permission to go all the temples. Never mind you can go but go along with your blood relation men. Duniya Kharaab hain. Even you are not safe in temple or mandir. There are many Swamiji's were in India facing these charges. You know very well.
In 1400 years before Prophet Mohammed guided that any women who wish to go outside (such as market, mosque etc.) to accompany their blood relation men.
Inquisitive to see Comments from Kotians and like minded trolls
WAKE UP guys! Cheddi will twist this reality & U honest hindus will accept it as it is... Please dont support the culprits who are involved in crime of our girls.... Protect the girls which ever religions it is... Stop supporting the CULPRITS who alwz twist the realities.
Never FEAR this people - FEAR only the one who created U & ME. When U fear the one who gave us soul... our fear for CREATION will become WEAK>>>
Shameless People....Throw him out of Country.Ban him from India.This is what we call Intolerance.Being a priest in a reputed and Historic place how could he do such shameless act.Innocent girl should get Justice.
Pitty on his 20 year old Daughter.
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