IR inaugurates new Jan Shatabdi special train

IR has launched the Kotdwar-Delhi Junction-Kotdwar Siddhabali Jan Shatabdi special train. This is expected to boost tourism and connectivity in the region. The train’s Linke Hofmann Busch coaches include AC chair cars, chair car coaches and two generator coaches. The train will stop at Najibabad junction, Muazzampur Narain junction, Bijnor, Haldaur, Chand Siau, Mandi Dhanaura, Gajraula, Hapur and Ghaziabad, in both directions. The electrification of the Kotdwar-Delhi route is almost complete, with only a 15 km stretch pending, which is expected to be electrified by the end of March 2021. Other railway projects in Uttarakhand are also progressing well. Funds of around Rs 44.32 billion have been allocated for the state’s railway projects in the Union Budget 2021-22, nearly 23 times more than the average allocation across the budgets of 2009-14.