Prabhu Flags Off Kamakhya-Bangalore Humsafer
Guwahati-
The Northeastern region got the second “Humsafar” Train of the country as Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu flagged off the inaugural Kamakhya – Bangalore Cantonment Humsafar Express through video conferencing from Mumbai on Sunday. The Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal and Railway Minister of State Rajen Gohain were the guests of honour at the ceremony at Kamakhya station held for the inaugural run.
While flagging off the train from Mumbai, the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said perceptible changes are taking place in Indian Railways in terms of delivery of quality service, progress of developmental projects and redressal of public grievances which all are component of Good Governance.
Prabhu said, earlier the north-eastern region used to get the benefits of development at the last; but the scene has been reversed and the region now gets all the benefits first. He cited the example that the second Humsafar Express of the country has been flagged off today connecting northeast with Bangalore and lauded the Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain for his active involvements. The Railway Minister also said that there are a host of developmental projects for northeast in the pipeline including development of Guwahati station as a World Class station.
The Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain in his speech said, it had always been his endeavour to work for the people of region and railway has many proposal for removing infrastructural bottleneck of the region.
Gohain said, there are many proposal under consideration of the Railway Ministry including a second railway bridge near Saraighat Bridge, a new railway bridge at Silghat and boubling of the New Bongaigaon – Rangiya – Kamakhya railway line.
The Chief Minister of Assam Sarbanada Sonowal thanked both Suresh Prabhu and Rajen Gohain for their initiatives in developing railway services like electrification and doubling etc. for the benefit of the people of the Northeast. He said, the future will see India shining through the Northeast.
About Humsafar Express
The all-AC affordable ‘luxury’ train for common man was announced in Railway Budget 2016. The train have all air-conditioned 3-tier Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches which have facilities like Global Positioning System (GPS)- based passenger information system, odour control system, fire announcement system etc.
A GPS-based display system at each end of the coaches shows real-time information about the exact location of the train and the distance from the next station. The side berths have been provided curtains to enhance passenger privacy and Khadi linen would be provided to passengers.
Each of the coaches of Humsafar Express has modern toilets with plush interiors. The odour control system has been integrated with the toilet flush in such a way that each flushing releases perfumes. Apart from these, three odour control systems are also fitted across the aisle which releases perfumes periodically. In line with Indian Railway’s vision to keep tracks defecation free, the coaches have been fitted with bio-toilets.
The train has an extensive fire and smoke detection system with six CCTV cameras and 10 smoke detectors and four heat detectors fitted in each coach. The exterior of the train has an attractive visual appeal with anti-graffiti vinyl coating.
