MARGAO, AUG 23
They prayed for all those instrumental in making the first direct train to Vailankani, as hundreds of pilgrims left for Nagapatinam by the special train on Monday evening to participate in the novenas of the feast of Our Lady of Vailankani.
The young, old and children boarded the Vasco-Nagapatinam Express as the train chugged at the Margao railway station at 8.15 pm. Smiles were writ large on the faces of the pilgrims as their long-standing dream to have a direct train finally materialized, as they profusely thanked the political class responsible to make the dreams of thousands of Goans a reality. “I thank the people responsible for successfully taking up with the centre to have a direct train to Nagapatinam. We are travelling in this train because it is direct and passengers need not change trains during the journey”, remarked Perry D’Silva.
The passengers thanked Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, MP Francisco sardinha and Luizinho Faleiro for finally realizing the dreams of the Goan pilgrims. Some of the pilgrims said the government should ensure that the train becomes an annual feature during the festive period at Vailankani.
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha was at the railway station to bid bon voyage to the hundreds of pilgrims. “This was a long pending demand of Goans to have a direct train. Thousands of Catholics going to Vailankani to attend the novenas and the feast annually had to undergo the ordeal of changing trains. This direct train will give a big relief to the pilgrims”, he added.
Referring to a suggestion made by the pilgrims to ensure that the train leaves Nagapatinam on its return journey on September 8, the South Goa MP assured to immediately take up the matter with the Union Railway Minister.
KRC, Sr Public Relations Manager, Baban Ghatge said the train will run every Monday to clear the rush of pilgrims from Goa to Vailankani. He said the train will leave Vasco at 20 hrs and reach Nagapatinam the next day. “The train can carry around 1000 passengers and it is almost running to its capacity”, Ghatge said, adding that the railways will assess the response from Goans before making it a regular feature.
