Mumbai: Dadar train to Statue of Unity among eight flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The Dadar-Kevadia express was launched by PM Modi via video conferencing at Dadar station on Sunday. Pic/Shadab Khan

Eight trains, including the Dadar-Kevadiya Superfast Express, were flagged off by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Sunday to facilitate seamless connectivity to the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

Two sections Dabhoi - Chandod Gauge and Chandod-Kevadiya were converted into broad gauge with new station buildings at Dabhoi, Chandod and Kevadiya. The Pratapnagar-Kevadiya stretch was also electrified.

The PM said that for the first time in the history of Railways, trains have been flagged off for the same destination from different corners of the country This is because of the importance of Kevadiya as the home to Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar dam. "Today's event exemplifies the vision of railways and mission of Sardar Patel," he said.

In its inaugural run train no. 09127 Dadar-Kevadiya Superfast Special Express departed from Dadar at 11.12 am and reached Kevadiya at 6.42 pm. The train halted at Borivali, Valsad, Surat, Bharuch, Vishwamitri and Vadodara stations.

Train no. 12927/28 Dadar-Vadodara Superfast Express which was running till Vadodara, has been extended to Kevadiya and will now run as train no. 02927/28 Dadar-Kevadiya Superfast Express. As a regular service, train no. 02927 will depart from Dadar daily at 11.50 pm and will reach Kevadiya at 7.25 am, the next day. Similarly, train no. 02928 Kevadiya-Dadar Superfast Express will depart from Kevadiya daily at 9.25 pm and will reach Dadar at 5.30 am, the next day.