Melbourne:Â “Modi Express”, a special train carrying over 220 passengers who will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first public lecture in Sydney on Monday, was flagged off by an Australian minister in Melbourne on Sunday.
Victorian Multicultural Minister Matthew Guy flagged off the train at Southern Cross station – the major railway station and transport hub for Melbourne.
Several Indians boarded the four bogies of the train at 8 pm local time on Sunday. The passengers danced and sang patriotic songs before boarding the train, creating a festive atmosphere at the station.
It is the first time in the history of Melbourne, that a train service has been organised under the name of a Prime Minister. The service has been organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP to honour Modi and celebrate his first official visit as prime minister to Australia.
“This Modi Express will be a hell of a party time for all of the passengers,” said Ashwin Bora, spokesperson for OFBJP’s Melbourne Chapter.
With the support of rail authorities, the train has been specially decorated with tri-colour balloons, Modi’s posters and banners and pictures of iconic places of India. The organisers said they will serve delicacies like ‘Modi Dhokla’ and ‘Modi Fafda’ to the passengers for free.
The minister, who flagged off the train with an Indian flag, said the visit of Modi holds a huge significance for the Indian diaspora living in the Australia and also for the Indo-Australian relationship.
More than 16,000 members of the Indian diaspora will pack Allphones Arena at Olympic Park to salute Modi at a community reception. About 5,000 more are expected to be watching the evening event on big screens outside.
“Looks like it’s gonna be India day in Sydney tomorrow,” Syed Akbaruddin, the spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry, tweeted. “Enthusiasm builds in Sydney. Even before PM ends Brisbane leg, excitement builds up at Sydney event,” another tweet said.
“Everyone just can’t wait,” Balesh Singh Dhankhar, the spokesman for the event organisers was quoted as having said in the Australian media. “The temperature of the festive mood is rising.”
Modi is expected to hold a public address in Sydney on November 17.