PM Narendra Modi to flag off AC Express train from Arunachal Pradesh

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first air-conditioned express train service between Delhi and Arunachal Pradesh at Naharlagun station in Itanagar on February 20.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu will also remain present along with Modi at Naharlagun for the flag off ceremony, officials said.

The weekly Naharlagun-New Delhi AC Express, part of the Rail Budget 2014-15 announcement, will cover the 2142 km in about 38 hours.

"The AC train will have Rajdhani type passenger amenities including catering facility for passengers," said a senior Railway Ministry official adding the catering charge would be included in the cost of ticket.

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government has given special focus on the connectivity to north-eastern states.

The AC train will depart from Naharlagun every Tuesday and from New Delhi every Sunday.

There are about 15 stoppages including Kanpur, Lucknow, Siwan, Hajipur, New Jalpaiguri and Rangiya between the two destinations.

Naharlagun, the serving station of Itanagar, capital city of Arunanchal is a new terminal on Harmuti-Naharlagun section in the state.