Hyderabad:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday flagged off the daily Garib Rath Express train between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam.
The train, introduced on October 24, 2008, was so far running four times a week and has now been converted into a daily service as announced in the Railway Budget last year, South Central Railway General Manager Jayanth said.
The train would leave Secunderabad at 8.15 pm and reach Visakhapatnam at 7.30 am. On the return journey it would leave Visakhapatnam at 8.30 pm and reach Secunderabad at 8.10 am.
It has exclusive coaches for ladies, physically-challenged and senior citizens, the General Manager said.
The Chief Minister also flagged off the daily Secunderabad-Patna Express, which was till now bi-weekly. It would leave Secunderabad at 10 am reach Patna at 7.10 pm the next day, while on the return journey the train will depart from Patna at 12.05 pm and reach Secunderabad at 9.30 pm the next day.
The train would provide a convenient travel option for pilgrims bound for holy cities like Allahabad and Varanasi.