Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto Express flagged off

Kolkata, Sep 19 (ANI): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged off Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto express, the country's first point-to-point non-stop train in Kolkata.

The Duronto express will cover the 1447-km distance between Sealdah and New Delhi in 16 hours and 20 minutes.

"After 30 years there is a train called Duronto. It will go faster than Rajdhani and it is an achievement, it will go non-stop and will stop only at the operation stop where they will take drinking water or whatever, only operational stoppage, otherwise no," said Banerjee.

The train will have no commercial stop, but has three operational stops at Dhanbad, Moghalsarai and Kanpur Central.

The 16-coach train comprises one AC-1, three AC-II, four AC-III and five AC-III (economy) coaches.

Banerjee also said the 14 Duronto Expresses announced in the Railway budget would be operational shortly.

These trains will be launched in Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore as a pilot project.

Passengers boarding the train on the first day were extremely excited.

"Well, first thing is that first day it has got added attraction plus it is the fastest super fast train. So I got the opportunity I thought I will avail it," said TK Singh, a passenger. (ANI)