india

Updated: Dec 25, 2015 13:31 IST

On the eve of the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, his dream project got off to a start as union minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha and union minister of state for human resource development Dr Ram Shankar Katheria flagged off the Agra-Etawah Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) passenger train from Bateshwar on Thursday.

The DMU train number 71909/71910 will run consistently from Etawah to Agra Cant via Bateshwar from Friday.

Speaking on the occasion Sinha said, “It is an honour to flag off the dream project of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. ”

He said PM Narendra Modi took the Agra-Etawah rail line project on priority and it had been started as a gift to the former PM. “PM Modi lays emphasis on completing all delayed projects,” he added.

The rail link would also help locals economically and socially. “Students, women, and others can now easily go to cities and return on the same day,” said Sinha.

In UP, the Railways has spent Rs 45,000 crores on infrastructural development and other schemes in this financial year. “The aim is to improve stations, begin new trains and provide more facilities to the passengers,” Sinha added.