Buddhist Circuit train flagged off

Indian Railways’ Buddhist Circuit train — Mahaparinirvan Special — was flagged off by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav from the Safdarjang railway station on Saturday. Having a capacity of 250 berths, the inaugural train carried only 53 passengers, many of whom were travel agents from S-E Asian nations. To be run by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation, the train will take passengers to important destinations linked to the life of Buddha such as Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Sravasti. It will cover the journey in eight days. While travelling in AC-1 would cost US$150 per person per night, the rates are US$105 and US$ 88 for AC-2 and AC-3.