Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying tributes to former President APJ Abdul Kalam at Rameswaram, the latter’s birthplace on the second death anniversary of India’s Missile Man.
Modi is flying down to Rameswaram, described as the Temple Town of Tamil Nadu on Thursday and would dedicate to the nation the majestic looking Kalam Memorial at Peykarambu where the scientist-turned former President was laid to rest.
The Prime Minister will also flag off “Kalam 2020 Science Vehicle”, a digital based mobile museum made by APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation. The vehicle showcases Kalam’s scientific achievements as a student and his tenure as scientist in the Indian Space Research Organisation and the DRDO.
The vehicle will travel through several States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh before reaching Rashtrapathi Bhavan on October 15, the birthday of Kalam.
As a mark of respect to the late President, who was the most popular personality in the country even after his presidential days, the Prime Minister will flag off a new weekly express train from Rameswaram to Faizabad via Ayodhya.
The Prime Minister will flag off the weekly express train by video conferencing from Rameswaram . The inaugural train leaves Rameswaran station at 12 30 pm on Thursday and will reach Faizabad on Saturday at 23.30 hrs.
A release by Southern Railway said regular services of the 16793/16794 weekly express train will commence from Rameswaram on August 6 and from Faizabad on August 9.
The train which covers 2,921 km would have stops at Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Chennai Egmore, Gudur, Vijayawada, Warangal, Balharshah, Nagpur, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Satna, Allahabad and Ayodhya.,
Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Rameswaram and the surrounding areas in the backdrop of the arrest of a Pakistani citizen at the temple town who infiltrated into the country from Sri lanka without any travel documents.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Governor of Tamil Nadu C Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy, union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and the vice-presidential candidate of the NDA, M Venkiah Naidu.