Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Demand for berth in Garib Rath growing

VISAKHAPATNAM: The demand for tickets in the recently introduced Garib Rath which is a fully air-conditioned train running between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam, has been increasing and the waiting list is getting longer. However, senior officials discount the possibility of running it all the seven days a week. At present it is running six days a week. It runs on alternate days from Secunderabad and Visakhapatynam. It leaves Secunderabad every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and in return journey leaves Visakhapatnam every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

‘It is news to me’ commented a senior officer of the East Coast Railway division here, when a report in a section of the media which said that the Garib Rath between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam would soon run all seven days in a week, was pointed out to him. ‘I don’t know how and from where such reports emanate. As of now there is no official communication about running the train all seven days in a week’ the senior officer said on Sunday. However, keeping in view the ever-increasing demand for tickets in the train, efforts would be made to make it a regular train.

The main problem, according to authorities, is the availability of rake. It may be recalled that the Garib Rath is a specially modified train with 15 bogies, all air-conditioned. Each bogey would have 78 berths as against 64 in other trains. It was a gift of Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad to ‘aam aadmi’ or the common man.

In all, 13 Garib Raths have been introduced by the Railways. Garib Rath between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam is part of the project to ensure air-conditioned travel to the common man.

It may be mentioned that the charge for travel in the AC compartment in Garib Rath is about Rs. 500 as against nearly Rs.780 in other trains.

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