Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis to Flag Off First ‘Ganapati’ Special ‘Namo Express’ from Dadar Station – News18

With the Ganpati festival around the corner, Maharashtra BJP has arranged six special trains, named ‘Namo Express’, for devotees going to the Konkan region.

The first train would leave for Konkan on Thursday from Dadar station at 9:45pm in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Informing devotees about the first train, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane said on X (formerly Twitter) that Hindu festivals would now be celebrated with much vigour by the government.

“Now, the UBT (Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray) government is gone, a trouble over the celebration of Hindu festivals is gone too. BJP would support the Ganesh devotees going to Konkan. BJP has arranged six trains for Konkan from Mumbai for the festival. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to flag off the train (sic),” Nitesh said.

The BJP leader also took a dig at Shiv Sena-UBT, comparing the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

He alleged that it was difficult to celebrate Hindu festivals under the Uddhav Thackeray government.

Every year, lakhs of people go to their villages in Konkan from Mumbai to celebrate the Ganesh festival.

It is one of the biggest festivals in the Konkan region and Mumbai. The 10-day long festival attracts huge crowds with a long waiting list for bus and train tickets.

The BJP has also arranged more than 300 buses for devotees going to Konkan. In a press conference, the party had also announced prizes worth Rs 17 lakh for the ‘Mumbaicha Morya 2023’ Ganpati competition for ‘best idol’, ‘best decoration’, and best cleanliness categories.