Mumbai/Amritsar – On the appeal of Sant Gyani Harnam Singh Khalsa, head of Damdami Mint and president of Sant Samaj, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced to celebrate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji at the government level, the Sikh community of Maharashtra is excited, while the Union Ministry of Railways is giving another big gift to Guru Nanak Lewa Sangat and the Sikh community of Maharashtra. Sahib has given permission to run Vande Bharat Express till Nanded. Vande Bharat train number 20705 will depart from Nanded at 5 am and reach Mumbai at 2.25 pm, while train number 20706 will depart from Mumbai at 1.10 pm and reach Nanded at 10.50 pm.Saint Gyani Harnam Singh Khalsa, who is also the founder of Sikh Samaj Maharashtra, welcomed the decision and said that it is a moment of great pride and joy for the Sikh community of Maharashtra and the whole of India. Nanded, the Jyoti Jyot Sthana of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, holds immense spiritual, cultural and historical significance for Sikhs and is one of the five thrones of Sikhism. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and especially Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis for taking bold and visionary steps to address the concerns, needs and aspirations of the Sikh community of Maharashtra. This commitment of the Fadnavis government will uplift the Guru Nanak Naam Lewa Sangat in the entire state. He said that the launch of this high-speed, semi-bullet train Vande Bharat Express service will be a lifeline to enhance comfort and connectivity for pilgrims, tourists and local residents.
Let us inform you that during the Gurmat Samagam held on 29th September 2024, a delegation led by Saint Gyani Harnam Singh Khalsa, head of Damdami Taksal, submitted a memorandum to Shri Devendra Fadnavis, requesting him to start Vande Bharat Express service connecting Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Aurangabad and Nagpur to Nanded to facilitate the journey of pilgrims to visit Hazur Sahib Nanded. was Taking immediate action on this, on 11 October 2024, Mr. Fadnavis raised the matter before the Union Minister of Railways, Mr. Ashwini Vaishnav ji and said that keeping in mind the growing Sikh population in Navi Mumbai and Panvel, he stressed the need to increase rail connectivity with Aurangabad, Nagpur, Nanded and North India and demanded to run super fast Vande Bharat trains.
Jaspal Singh Sidhu, President of Navi Mumbai Supreme Council of Gurudwara and head of 11-member Sikh Coordination Committee, Malkeet Singh Bal, Executive President of Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, Charandeep Singh Happy, Member of Maharashtra State Minority Commission, Sarabjit Singh Saini of Sikh Coordination Committee, Sarabjit Singh Sandhu and Punjab BJP Spokesperson Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiyala thanked the Central and State Governments for the Railway Ministry’s approval to extend the Vande Bharat Express from Mumbai-Hajur Sahib to Nanded and said that the move brought happiness to the Sikh community as it would now make it easier for them to visit Hazur Sahib, a major pilgrimage site of Sikhism.