In order to further strengthen the spirit of patriotism, commemorating the contribution and sacrifices of freedom fighters under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) being celebrated across the country, the Independence Train and Station Week organized by the Indian Railways concluded with a ceremonial end on Saturday. During this iconic week of Amrit Mahotsav, Indian Railways showed its respect to the heroes of the country's freedom struggle.
The main closing ceremony was held in New Delhi, where Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Prahlad Joshi, Minister of State for Railways and Textiles Darshana Jardosh, Minister of State for Railways, Rao Saheb Patil Danve, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhowmik, President and Chief Executive Officer/Railway Board Vinay Kumar Tripathi and freedom fighters and their families and other high officials were present. This function was connected through video link to 75 stations designated for freedom struggle across Indian Railways.
On this occasion, Anupam Sharma, General Manager, East Central Railway attended the function through video conference from Patna. Along with this, all the selected six stations of ECR were connected by video link where the general public including the DRM of the divisions were present. All the guest freedom fighters and their family members were welcomed by the Divisional Railway Managers and shared their memories.
This iconic week started on 18th July, 2022. The focus of this festival was 75 stations and 27 spotlight trains of the country associated with the freedom struggle. In selected 75 stations of Indian Railways, ECR's Bapudham Motihari, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Gomo, Khudiram Bose Pusa, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Jn, Patna Jn. And during the iconic week, programs related to patriotism were organized at Ara stations. During this, 07 photo exhibitions, 06 selfie points were installed in East Central Railway. Along with this, 20 Prabhat Pheris were taken out and soulful tributes were paid to the freedom fighters through 53 street plays etc.
At the conclusion of the Iconic Week, today Mahatma Gandhi had reached Bapudham Motihari station by train for the "Champaran Satyagraha", which gave a new direction to the freedom movement. In this memory, a heritage special was run from Muzaffarpur station to Bapudham Motihari/Bettiah today. On this occasion, the family members of 07 freedom fighters were honored by the Divisional Railway Manager of Samastipur Division in a function organized at Bapudham Motihari station. Similarly, the freedom fighter / his family member was honored by organizing programs in Patna and Arrah of Danapur division. In Patna, 02 freedom fighters and 06 freedom fighters' family members were honored by the Divisional Railway Manager of Danapur Division. The freedom fighter/freedom fighter's family member was also honored at Ara station.
In this sequence, in the program organized on Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Junction, 01 freedom fighters and 09 freedom fighter's family members were honored by the Divisional Railway Manager of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Division. In a program organized at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Gomo station of Dhanbad division, the family of a freedom fighter was honoured by the Divisional Railway Manager of Dhanbad Division. In the program organized at Khudiram Bose Pusa station of Sonpur division, the guest freedom fighter/family member was honored by the Divisional Railway Manager of Sonpur Division.