Train commemorating ex-PM Vajpayee's birthday to flag off

Agra, Dec 24: The Indian Railways will launch a new train on Thursday,Dec 24 to commemorate former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday.

Union minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha will flag off the new train from Bateshar in Bah tehsil of Agra district, ancestral village of Vajpayee, to Etawah.

Bateshar is famous for its 101 Shiva temples in a row along the banks of the Yamuna.

The train will pass through picturesque Chambal ravines, once the haven of dreaded dacoits.

Vajpayee had announced this mega rail connecting project around 15 years back, on April 1, 1999.

The project had seen many ups and downs with change in governments at both Centre and state levels.

Even after spending crores, the project hit a road block due to non-acquisition of five hectares of land.

BJP blamed poor coordination between railway and administrative authorities for the delay in project. According to an estimate, railway authorities have spent around Rs. 250 crore on this project.

IANS