From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 30: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa launched the maiden Roll-On-Roll-Off (RORO) train service from Bengaluru to Sholapur in Maharashtra on Sunday.

The maiden RORO train is carrying trucks in an open flat wagon from Bengaluru’s Nelamangala to Sholapur.

The Chief Minister flagged off the RORO train through an video link.

Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, Revenue Minister R Ashok, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarakiholi and Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Shankagouda Patil were present during the function.

The RORO train will reach its destination via Dharmavaram, Guntakal, Raichuru and Wadi and will take 17 hours to reach Sholapur covering a distance of 682 km.

The RORO train enables carrying as many as 42 trucks loaded with goods. The driver and cleaner of the trucks will be sitting in their respective vehicles and they will be able to drive off the trucks after alighting from the train.

According to South Western Railway, which has commissioned this RORO train service, large-scale movement of goods is possible at a much lesser cost than road transport besides reducing pollution and minimizing accidents.

The Chief Minister later performed the Prukruti Vandana programme by symbolically planting a sapling at his home office, Cauvery, in Bengaluru.

Union minister of state for Railways Suresh Angadi, Chief Minister’s Political Secretary ShankargoudaPatil and Karnataka Bio-Diversity Board Chairman Ananth HegdeAshishara participated in the programme.