While Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s dream of running “Garib Rath”, the common man’s AC train at cheaper fare, has already taken practical shape with the operation of first such train from Amritsar to Saharsa a few months ago, the second “Garib Rath” may also become operational soon between Patna and New Delhi.
Talking to media persons, Rail Coach Factory (RCF) General Manager S.K. Suri said that while the exact date of starting of the second rath was not finalised yet, it would start within the next 15 days.
The RCF, Kapurthala, rolled out 17 coaches - 14 AC three-tier sleeper and three power cars - for the second rake of “Garib Rath” train today.
Besides the sitting chair cars, coaches with 102 seats for the second “Garib Rath” rake had reportedly been manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory, Perambur.
As many as14 AC three-tier sleeper coaches and three power cars, earlier manufactured by the RCF, are already running in the first “Garib Rath” train from Amritsar to Saharsa in Bihar.
After the second “Garib Rath”, the two remaining “Garib Raths” between Delhi and Mumbai and Delhi and Chennai will be inaugurated.
According to the information provided by the authorities, the RCF plans to manufacture a total of 56 AC sleeper coaches and 12 power cars for four rakes of “Garib Rath” during the current financial year.
Source- TRIBUNE, Dated, November-28,2006
