Discovery Kids Joy Express, a joy ride with a message for children below the age of 12, was flagged off here on Friday.

Every weekend starting December 19 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m, Discovery Kids Joy Express, launched by Discovery Kids channel and Rapid Metro Gurgaon Limited, will bring a host of exciting games, art and craft, puppet and magic shows all aboard the Rapid Metro.

Children will also get a chance to meet their Discovery Kids superhero Kisna.

Painted in colours like yellow, green and blue with Kisna's shots on the train, it is an initiative to drive the creativity and imagination of children with games and activities.

"We wanted to do fun activities with a message. That's why we partnered with Discovery Kids. We wanted to connect with the youth at an early age and emphasise on the sustainable public transport. We plan to do it for at least six months," Rajiv Banga, managing director and CEO, IL&FS Rail Ltd, told IANS.

With three coaches dedicated for the same, as many as 150 children with their teachers and a few more adults took the ride on Friday.

"We wanted to give entertainment embedded with learning to children and doing all this mid-air adds to the fun. We want to take kids' imagination to a different level so we have all these activities that have special messages on hygiene, cleanliness, patriotism and more.

"We know they also want to meet their favourite character of the channel so we got Kisna. He will meet children, shake hands and take photographs. There will be no extra charges for taking photographs," Rajiv Bakshi, vice president - marketing, South Asia Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, told IANS.

Children need to be accompanied by one parent or adult at the Sikanderpur Rapid Metro station. The tickets are priced at Rs.250 for children and Rs.100 for the accompanying parent or adult. They will be available at the metro station or can be purchased online.