UP CM flags off India's first private train Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas Express

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off Tejas express from Charbagh railway station in Lucknow on Friday. India's first private train will be run by IRCTC six days a week except for Tuesday.

A high-quality meal will be served to the passengers on the Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas express and there are also tea-coffee vending machines inside the coaches. Passengers travelling on this train can only book tickets from IRCTC website and Railways app.

The train will complete the journey from Lucknow to Delhi in 6 hours 10 minutes. In a first, passengers will be compensated if the train gets delayed.

According to the information provided by IRCTC, the passengers will get a refund of Rs 100 in case the train gets delayed for an hour. If the delay is of more than 2 hours then Rs 250 will be given to passengers by IRCTC.

It is also for the first time IRCTC is offering free travel insurance of Rs 25 lakh to the passengers travelling on the train. Taxi hiring and hotel booking facilities will also be given to the passengers on demand.

Speaking to India Today, one of the passengers, Anamika Mishra said, "We are very happy that the Railways for the first time has focused on time management. The train is very comfortable and we are getting a flight-like experience. The coaches are also beautifully built."

"We are getting the experience of semi-high speed trains which are run in foreign countries. The commitment of time management by IRCTC is highly welcoming. More trains like these should run in our countries," said Rajesh Srivastava, another passenger travelling on Tejas express.

Speaking to the media after inaugurating the train, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said, "The travel time between Lucknow to Delhi will now be reduced and passengers will have a more comfortable experience onboard. The train service will also promote tourism in the state. The focus of Railways is to provide the best facilities to the passengers and our government is fulfilling the commitment."

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