PM Modi Flags off Champaran Humsafar Express Train in Motihari

Modi’s visit marks the concluding celebration of Champaran Satyagraha centenary by the Bihar government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 10 April, flagged off the Humsafar Express train between Katihar, Bihar and Old Delhi and laid the foundation of a track-doubling project in Bihar.

The prime minister was in Motihari to attend an event to mark 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Satyagrah with an aim to spread the message of Swachh Bharat.

He laid the foundation stone of a project for doubling of Muzzafarpur-Sagauli (100.6 km) and Sagauli-Valmikinagar sections (109.7 km), flagged off the first-run of the Champaran Humsafar Express between Katihar and Old Delhi and the first 1200 hp freight electric locomotive assembled at the Madhepura factory.

He also dedicated the first phase of the factory to the nation.

Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in February 2018, the two sections – Muzzafarpur-Sagauli and Sagauli-Valmikinagar – are being built at an estimated cost of Rs 2,401 crore and will cover districts of Muzaffarnagar, East Champaran and West Champaran.

The Champaran Humsafar Express will facilitate faster, safer and comfortable journey experience to common man of north Bihar. The train will run bi-weekly – Tuesdays and Fridays – covering a distance of 1,383 km, according to an official statement.

The loco factory in Madhepura, a joint venture between Indian Railways and French manufacturing firm Alstom, has a capacity to manufacture 110 locos per annum. The railways has set a target of manufacturing 800 locos (five assembled and 795 manufactured) over a period of 11 years.

PM Modi being received by Bihar Governor Satyapal Malik and CM Nitish Kumar.(Photo: PIB)

Modi also laid the foundation stones of four sewerage projects, worth Rs 1,111.56 crore, aimed at creating a sewage-treatment capacity of 60 million litres daily (MLD) for Patna, at Motihari.

The projects in Patna include the 376.12-km sewer network in Saidpur and the Pahari sewerage zones, an official statement issued said.

The prime minister also addressed swachhagrahis or ambassadors of cleanliness, to spread awareness regarding sanitation and hygiene and asked them to encourage people in the process of construct toilets.

Mahatma Gandhi had launched the "Champaran Satyagrah" on 10 April 1917 against the British to fight for the rights of farmers who were forced to undertake indigo cultivation.

Modi’s visit marks the end of the centenary events of the satyagrah, which will be celebrated through the Satyagrah se Swachhagrah campaign.

(With inputs from PTI )