nitishPatna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday flagged off a new train between Gaya and Jamalpur at a function at Gaya railway station that was attended by a number of party leaders and senior railway officials.

"I am thankful to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for allowing me an opportunity to participate in such railway events. When I was the Railway Minister, I had flagged off a number of trains but such opportunities died during the tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Mamata Banerjee has once again given me the honor to be a part of such important events and for this I am very grateful to her," the Chief Minister said.

Kumar said that Gaya was an important destination for a number of people including Hindus across the nation and Buddhists throughout the world. For this reason, Gaya must have a world-class railway station, an airport of international standard, and good road conditions, he said.

"The time for the new budget is almost here and considering the immense historical importance of Gaya; I would personally make appeals to the Union Ministers to send new developmental projects for this town," the Chief Minister said.

Kumar further said that he would ask Mamata Banerjee to extend the Gaya-Chennai railway route up to Bangalore since a number of Bihari students study in Karnataka.

The function was presided over by the General Manager of the East-Central Railways Sanjiv Handa and the guests were welcomed by the Mughalsarai rail division manager A. K. Putia.