Saturday, 26 June 2021 | Deepak Kumar Jha | New Delhi/Kanpur
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday chose to embark on a special train journey to visit his birthplace in Uttar Pradesh. He was accompanied by the First Lady and their daughter. The popular elite 8 coaches Maharaja train rake run by IRCTC was converted into a Special Presidential train that started from Safdarjung railway station at 12.30 pm to reach Kanpur around 8.00 pm.
The special train ran at a speed of 90 kmph as per Blue Book Manual of Indian Railways, which means no train can pass or cross it due to security concerns. The President’s train was led by a pilot train and covered by another rake.
Sources said the President and family were delighted to watch the scenic beauty. They had small vegetarian meal for lunch and a light supper, sources said. Railway Ministry sources said the President had desired to visit the place earlier also but he could not do so because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The special train made two stoppages at Jhinjhak and Rura of Kanpur Dehat. Kovind met his old acquaintances and friends and also addressed a small gathering at these stopovers.
The President was accorded a red carpet welcome at Kanpur Central Station. He was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and top most officials of the State.
Under supervision of strict Covid-19 protocol, the train would halt there for next two days. On June 28, Kovind will board the train at the same station at platform number 1 to reach Lucknow, and on June 29 President and family will return to the national Capital on a special flight.
“As he boards the train, the President will be travelling down the memory lane that will cover a span of seven decades of his life, right from his childhood to holding the top constitutional position in the country,” a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and other top officials from Rashtrapati Bhawan and Ministry of Railways were present at the fully decked Safdarjung Railway Station to see off the President.
Goyal thanked the President for using the railways for his journey and expressed that post-pandemic, the vast rail network will help the country to regain its economic glory very soon.
The railways stated that the special train service was run for the President and his family members to travel from Delhi to his native village. “This move will be a great morale booster for the railwaymen who have diligently given their services throughout the difficult pandemic times. This will also help to encourage and build confidence amongst the people to use the trains to travel for business, tourism and other purposes to different parts of the country,” the statement further added.
The last time a president travelled by train was in 2006 when A P J Abdul Kalam boarded a special train from Delhi to Dehradun to attend the passing-out parade of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) cadets.
Records show that the country’s first President Rajendra Prasad often undertook train journeys, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. Soon after taking office as the President, he visited his birthplace Ziradei in
Bihar’s Siwan district. Prasad boarded the President’s special train from Chhapra to reach Ziradei, where he spent three days, the statement said. He travelled across the country by train. Prasad’s successors also preferred train journeys to connect with the people of the country.
“The service of the Presidential Saloon which was used since Independence had been discontinued on the instructions of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. This saved the exchequer crores of rupees annually utilized in the making and maintenance of the Saloon. Post Covid as the country enters into the resurgence and rebuilding mode, Indian Railways had requested the President to travel by the people’s transport,” said a statement by the Indian Railways.
