Aastha train to Ayodhya departs with 972 passengers; pictures

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Special services from Kerala to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, where Ram Lalla Pratishtha was performed, started yesterday. The train left Kochuveli at 10 am and was flagged off by former Railway Minister and senior BJP leader O Rajagopal.

972 people left for Ramlalla in Ayodhya in 20 sleeper coaches. BJP will welcome the train at various stations. The train will reach Ayodhya at 2 am on 12th. The train will return to Kochuveli at 10:45 pm on the 15th. The ticket rate for the to and fro journey is Rs 3,300.

There was no direct train from Kerala to Ayodhya. One could only go by train till Gorakhpur and from there by a connecting train or by road. After the opening of the Ram temple 24 trains from Kerala were decided to run the service with the intervention of the BJP.

The service is included in the private train category. Therefore, there will be no official intervention of the Railways. The train service is managed by a private trust. A fee has to be paid to the Railways for using the track and using the train bogie.
Passengers are issued a special ID card which includes the Aadhaar number and register number. Food, accommodation and sightseeing facilities are provided at Ayodhya. Passengers will have to bear the cost of meals on the train.