Shirdi, Mar 1: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav flagged off a train to the holy pilgrimage spot of Shirdi on Saturday.

There was no rail link to Shirdi and the pilgrims used to reach the shrine by road. The new broad gauge line will provide connectivity to this revered shrine from all parts of the country.

Yadav, who also visited the shrine, said a large number of devotees irrespective of their faith, pay homage to the seer. The new line, originating from Puntamba on Daund-Manmad route will provide direct rail link to Shirdi from all parts of the country.

The beginning journey will be from Puntamba to Shirdi. Regular services will commence from today.

The train will leave CST at 10.55 p. m. and reach Shirdi at 10.30 a. m. the next day. The return train will leave from Shirdi at 4.40 p. m. and reach CST at 4.25 a. m. via Dadar- Thane- Kalyan- Pune- Daund- Ahmednagar- Puntamba stations with 22 halts on the way.

The average ticket of a journey from CST to Shirdi will cost nearly Rs. 130.

The entire project has been completed at a cost of Rs 78 crore. (ANI)