Pilibhit-Bareilly passenger train flagged off

Uttar Pradesh is not only a big state but in the coming days it will become a "big developed state", Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said here today after flagging off a new train on Pilibhit-Bhojipura-Bareilly route.
While Prabhu, along with senior railway officials, flagged off the train through video-conferencing from here, Union minister Maneka Gandhi was present at Pilbhit station.
The new passenger service was made operational conversion of Bhojipura-Pilibhit track into broad gauge.
He said railways has laid great emphasis on projects in Uttar Pradesh.
"There are as many as 62 ongoing projects in the state involving total 6,500kms track," Pravhu said, adding, "Outlay for projects in UP has been increased substantially in the last three years."

The average annual outlay for projects in UP from 2009 to 2014 was Rs 1,100 crore. This has been enhanced to Rs 3,400 crore based upon average of the last three budgets.

In 2016-17 alone, railways allotted Rs 5,369 crore for projects falling partly or fully in UP.
Prabhu said Pilibhit and Bareilly are large districts which have historic importance and a large chunk of people commute between these two commercial cities for the purpose of their livelihood.
He said that this new broad gauge line and new train service will benefit daily commuters.