Modi to launch 205 ‘One Station, One Product’ stalls for Southern Railway
PM to dedicate to nation railway projects worth ₹85,000 crore today; one more ChennaiMysuru Vande Bharat and new Express train on KollamTirupathi route to be flagged off; he will also open Aushadi Kendras selling affordable medicines
rime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate ‘One Station, One Product’ (OSOP) stalls at 205 railway stations across Southern Railway, including 168 in Tamil Nadu, through video conferencing on Tuesday.
The OSOP scheme which promotes the ‘Local for Vocal’ vision of the Government of India provides a market for local/indigenous products and creates additional income opportunities for the marginalised sections of the society, Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh said.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Singh said as
Ppart of the ₹85,000crore railway projects that would be dedicated to the nation on Tuesday, Mr. Modi would launch another Vande Bharat Express between Dr. MGR Chennai Central and Mysuru. While the regular services of Train No. 20663/20664 MysuruDr. MGR Chennai CentralMysuru Vande Bharat (except Wednesday) would commence on April 5, the train would run between Chennai Central and SMVT Bengaluru from March 14 to April 4, with stops at Katpadi and Krishnarajapuram.
Mr. Modi will also flag off a new Express train on the KollamTirupathiKollam route and extension of the ThiruvananthapuramKasaragod Vande Bharat Express up to Mangaluru Central. To ease freight loading/unloading, Goods Sheds with ample warehousing facilities would be launched at Singaperumal Koil, Gangaikondan, Theni, Pattukottai, Thiruthuraipoondi and Valliyur.
Mr. Modi will inaugurate Jan Aushadi Kendras at Dindigul, Erode, Tiruchi and Palakkad railway stations where passengers would be able to purchase quality generic medicines at an affordable price.
Among other projects, a rail coach restaurant would be inaugurated at Chennai Central.
Air-conditioned EMUs
A senior railway officer who was present in the press conference said two airconditioned EMUs were allotted for Southern Railway and services would commence in May or June after the rakes are received from the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. To a question on jerks experienced by passengers in Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) rakes, he said the issue was taken up with the ICF and some improvement was being made.