Janshatabdi express train reaches Jiribam
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 08 2022:
In a historic event for entire Northeast the first Janshatabdi express train connecting Manipur with Tripura via Assam was flagged off by Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday through video link from Railway Board.
According to a release issued by NF Railway chief public relations officer Guneet Kaur Train number 02097/02098 Agartala-Jiribam-Agartala Janshatabdi inaugural special trains were flagged oil from Agartala and Jiribam railway stations simultaneously.
The inaugural programme was also attended by Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER G Kishan Reddy and Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh through video link and Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Minister of State for External Affairs, Education Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhoumik, Manipur minister for Transport & GAD, Tribal Affairs & Hills Vungzagin Valte, Tripura minister for Transport, Tourism, Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare Pranajit Singha Roy and other dignitaries.
This service fulfils the long standing demand of people of the two states.
In addition to Agartala and Jiribam from where both the up and down service was inaugurated, the event also took place at Railway Board, Delhi and CM Office, Imphal through video conferencing, it said.
Railway Board chairman and CEO V K Tripathi while welcoming all dignitaries, briefed about the newly introduced train service.
In their addresses, Tripura CM Biplab Deb said that this train service will reduce the travel time from Agartala to Silchar (nearby Arunachal Station) and Jiribam while Manipur CM Biren expressed his gratitude to the Railway Minister for getting the approval of the new rail line project of Imphal-Moreh section.
The chief ministers further said that the old relationship between the two states will be further strengthened after the start of this train service, the release said.
Union minister G Kishan Reddy said that the much-awaited train service provides a major boost to trade and tourism of the Northeast region.
He also expressed his gratitude towards the Prime Minister for his vision to work with 'HIRA' model (H for Highway, I for Internet, R for Railways and A for Airways) of development for the North-eastern state.
Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said that this train is the link connoting the culture of two states.
He added that the Imphal-Moreh rail section will be a very strategic line, due to which the relationship between India and South-East Asian countries will be very important.
Efforts will be made to expedite the work of Agartala-Akhaura rail project.
First Janshatabdi express train from Manipur to Tripura via Arunachal station (Silchar) in Assam will connect some important and historic towns like Silchar, Badarpur, New Karimganj, Dharmanagar and Ambassa apart from Jiribam and Agartala the two terminal stations.
Train journey shall cut the travel time by half as the journey time will be around six hours covering a distance of 300 km against about 12 hours or so it takes to travel by road.
The schedule triweekly service of train number 12097/12098 Agartala-Jiribam-Agartala Janshatabdi Express on Monday, Wednesday and Friday will commence wjth effect from January 10, 2022.The train will leave from Agartala at 6 am to reach Jiribam at 12 pm.
In return direction, the train will leave from Jiribam at 4 pm to reach Agartala at 10 pm, it said.
This service will give an impetus to trade, tourism and transportation sector in this region including the three states.
At present there is no direct train between Manipur and Tripura and only one train runs between Agartala and Silchar that too in the morning hours.
The Janshatabdi train will provide direct connectivity to the people of Manipur going to Tripura for Educational and Health facilities and people of Tripura also get opportunity to visit Manipur for trade, tourism etc, boosting the overall economy of the region, it said.