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Lalu extends non-existent train!

February 13, 2009 14:31 IST
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is indeed a magician.

In his interim Railway Budget for 2009-10, Lalu announced the extension of 2187/2188 Jabalpur-Mumbai-Jabalpur biweekly Garib Rath Express to Allahabad. The trouble, however, is that the Jabalpur-Mumbai-Jabalpur Garib Rath does not exist!

Although it was announced in last year's rail budget, it was never flagged off. Even before the

train has started running, the railway minister announced its extension up to Allahabad.

However, having realizing this, the railways quickly posted a note on Friday saying that the train will be flagged off from Jabalpur on the February 20. Regular runs of the train are likely to begin from February 21 from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. The train will be extended up to Allahabad only once the new timetable comes into force.

A Correspondent