Dhemaji: Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday got its second direct train to the national capital.

Union minister of state for railways Rajen Gohain and minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju flagged off the 02411 Arunachal Express from Naharlagun railway station, around 15km from Itanagar, in Papum Pare district. It will travel to Anand Vihar terminal station in New Delhi, 2,013km away, in over 38 hours with 14 stops en route.

The weekly AC train has “state-of-the-art coaches” which are “modern and safe”. It is the 14th direct train to New Delhi from the Northeast.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the train during his visit to Itanagar on February 15.

Gohain lauded the launch as a new dawn in the “land of the rising sun” (Arunachal Pradesh) and said the new train was similar to Rajdhani Express. He said the Centre was taking all steps to expedite implementation of railway projects in the Northeast. He said his ministry has set a target of linking the capitals of all Northeastern states, barring Sikkim and Meghalaya, through broad-gauge line. He said Pasighat will join the railway map soon.

Gohain called on local youths to take the benefit of the massive recruitment drive in the railways. As many as 90,000 posts are being offered, where recruitment will be carried out through a transparent online process, he said.

Rijiju said 11 surveys for the construction of new lines in Arunachal are in progress. He stressed on timely completion of all railway projects and called upon the people to extend co-operation towards the government and implementing agencies to avoid delay in their completion.

“Congratulations to the people of Arunachal Pradesh! As announced by PM@narendramodi ji, Special Train “ARUNACHAL EXPRESS” between Naharlagun to Anand Vihar, Delhi was flagged off from Naharlagun today,” Rijiju tweeted.
 

Additional reporting by a staff reporter in Guwahati