Eight new trains to Kevadia provide seamless rail connectivity to the world’s tallest ‘Statue of Unity’ and ancient pilgrim places in Gujarat.
Eight new train services to Kevadia were launched to provide seamless rail connectivity to the world’s tallest ‘Statue of Unity’ and also to ancient places of pilgrimage on the banks of Holy River Narmada such as old temples at Karnali, Poicha, and Garudeshwar, in the state of Gujarat, India.
Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, flagged off eight new trains from various destinations to Kevadiya and inaugurated the 18 kilometres long Dabhoi – Chandod railway line which is newly converted to broad gauge, a new 32 kilometre long broad gauge railway line from Chandod to Kevadiya, a newly electrified 80 kilometre long railway line section of Pratapnagar – Kevadiya, and new railway station buildings of Dabhoi Junction, Chandod, and Kevadiya, through video conferencing.
The colossal Statue of Unity commemorates the Iron Man of India, Shri Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who was a leading figure in the nonviolent Indian Independence Movement and later served as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister. For it was Sardar Patel's determined efforts that led the great unification of India by integrating more than 560 princely states which existed at the time of Indian independence in 1947.
This great Statue of Unity stands tall at a towering height of 182 meters (597 feet), which makes it the world's tallest statue. Since its opening on 31st October of 2018, on the occasion of the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, this statue has turned into a major tourist attraction in India.
The newly commissioned Dabhoi - Chandod – Kevadiya railway line and the inauguration of Kevadiya railway station now not only makes it easier for people to visit this iconic statue, but also facilitates visiting many pilgrim and tourist sites in this region too, such as important religious and ancient pilgrimage sites on the banks of River Narmada, such as the temples of Karnali, Poicha, and Garudeshwar. Poicha has the spectacular Nilkanth Dham Swaminarayan Temple amidst a beautiful garden, on the bank of river Narmada.
Also, in the vicinity of the Statue of Unity, there are the newly launched Jungle Safari Park, Ekta Mall, Children's Nutrition Park, Arogya Forest, and other places of attraction. Also, the railway travel will save time and money for tourists, as it's quicker and costs lesser in comparison, between Kevadiya and Pratapnagar in Vadodara.
There are trains connecting Kevadiya to Eastern, Western, Northern, Central, and Southern parts of India, as per the corresponding notification of 17th January 2021 by the Ministry of Railways.
The details of these trains as per this notification are as below:
Also, in addition to the above, the notification also informs that the following trains will also commence their services:
Also, as per this notification, for first time on Indian Railways, Janshatabdi Express trains will have the latest “Vistadome tourist coaches”, which will provide a panoramic view of the skyline.
Kevadia railway station is also the first Green Building certified station. IRCTC provides economical tour packages, and it is also constructing a budget hotel of 500 rooms near Kevadiya railway station, for the convenience of tourists.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi even tweeted some pictures of these new Vistadome coaches of the Shatabdi Express between Ahmedabad and Kevadia.
One of the trains being flagged-off tomorrow is the Jan Shatabdi Express between Ahmedabad and Kevadia. This train will have Vistadome coaches.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2021
Sharing some glimpses. pic.twitter.com/ihsZoxOo8S
A sea-plane service between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, was inagurated last year in October 2020. This, along with the new rail connectivity, with some equipped with vistadome coaches, aims to provide a better experience to tourists even while travelling to this iconic Statue of Unity.
[1] Details of the eight trains flagged off today and the Railway projects inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister - Ministry of Railways, Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Posted On: 17 January 2021, 4:37PM.
[2] Prime Minister inaugurates to & fro Sea-plane Service between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad - Prime Minister's Office, Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Posted On: 31 October 2020, 2:25PM.