Ayodhya: A journey aboard the Malda-SMVT Bengaluru Amrit Bharat Express proved to be a diverse and enriching experience for a group of passengers, including a septuagenarian monk, a patient, and migrant laborers. The inaugural run of the train witnessed a fascinating mix of travelers, each with their unique stories and reasons for embarking on this new adventure.
Among the passengers was Divyanath, a venerable monk in his seventies, en route to Kamakhya. Spotting the Amrit Bharat Express at Bardhaman station in West Bengal changed his plans, prompting him to choose a detour to the Puri Jagannath Temple instead. Reflecting on his spiritual journey that began in his teens, Divyanath, seated in the gleaming new bogies, reminisced about traveling by steam engines and marveled at the evolution of transportation over the years.
Sporting only a small sack and a wooden stick, Divyanath emphasized the unity of the country, transcending differences in religion, caste, or creed. "We all belong to Bharat, whether Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh," he asserted, advocating for harmony among the diverse populace.
Accompanying his wife for medical reasons, motor mechanic Amit Bairagi considered himself fortunate to secure a spot on the Amrit Bharat Express at short notice. Recounting his wife's medical journey, he highlighted the urgency of reaching a Bengaluru hospital. The couple had learned about the train's inaugural run on Friday and managed to obtain a pass just in time.
Tony Mondal, an unskilled laborer in Bengaluru, and his colleagues seized the opportunity for a free pass to travel to the Karnataka capital from Malda. Having returned home for a family function, Tony and his companions appreciated the luxurious experience of the new train compared to their usual travels. Ergonomically designed toilets, snazzy upholstery, and other amenities stood in stark contrast to what they described as the "nightmare" of general compartments on other trains.
The train's features, including radium-illuminated flooring strips, CCTV surveillance, mobile charging points, standalone passenger announcements, and public information systems, were highlighted by South Eastern Railway spokesperson Aditya Kumar Chaudhary. The joyrides extended to school students, adding a youthful exuberance to the journey.
The Amrit Bharat Express, with its 22 non-AC coaches, is set to commence its commercial run on January 7. The train boasts two WAP-5 locomotives in a push-pull configuration, manufactured by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), ensuring swift acceleration without the need for locomotive switches at stations. Chaudhary mentioned that, based on passenger demand, authorities would consider adjusting the train's frequency and introducing AC coaches, offering a promising future for this new addition to India's rail network.
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