<p>"Modi Express", a special train carrying over 220 passengers who will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first public lecture in Sydney, was flagged off today by an Australian minister here.</p>.<p><br />Victorian Multicultural Minister Matthew Guy flagged off the train at Southern Cross station - the major railway station and transport hub for Melbourne - amid huge fanfare of Modi who is the first Indian premier to visit the country in the last 28 years.<br /><br />For the first time in the history of Melbourne, a train service was organised under the name of a Prime Minister.<br /><br />The passengers from several communities including Punjabi, Muslims, Gujarati and Kashmiris boarded the train of four bogies at 8 PM local time today. The passengers danced and sang patriotic songs before boarding the train, creating a huge festive atmosphere at the station.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />A couple, in their 60s, Dr Bhupender Singh and Gunni from Punjab who flew from Adelaide, said it was a huge moment for for Indians living in Australia and there was a sense of excitement among the diaspora with Modi's visit.<br /><br />The passengers will be served with delicacies like 'Modi Dhokla' and 'Modi Fafda' by the organisers for free of cost.<br /><br />Meanwhile, hundreds of Indians living in Victoria came to see off the train and be a part of the historic moment.<br /><br />Gurbir Singh, a Melbourne resident also expressed his excitement. "Modi has given us a hope for the growth and a good future ahead," said Gurbir.<br />Organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP here, the service has been named as "Modi <br /><br />Express" to honour their leader and celebrate his first official visit as prime minister to Australia.<br /><br />"This Modi Express will be a hell of a party time for all of the passengers," according to Ashwin Bora, spokesperson for OFBJP's Melbourne Chapter.<br />People from several communities even locals here have booked their seats on this train, he said.<br /><br />With the support of rail authorities here, the train was specially decorated with tri-colour balloons, Modi's posters and banners and pictures of iconic places of India.<br /><br />Modi is expected to hold a public address on November 17 for which over 150,000 attendees have already registered.</p>
<p>"Modi Express", a special train carrying over 220 passengers who will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first public lecture in Sydney, was flagged off today by an Australian minister here.</p>.<p><br />Victorian Multicultural Minister Matthew Guy flagged off the train at Southern Cross station - the major railway station and transport hub for Melbourne - amid huge fanfare of Modi who is the first Indian premier to visit the country in the last 28 years.<br /><br />For the first time in the history of Melbourne, a train service was organised under the name of a Prime Minister.<br /><br />The passengers from several communities including Punjabi, Muslims, Gujarati and Kashmiris boarded the train of four bogies at 8 PM local time today. The passengers danced and sang patriotic songs before boarding the train, creating a huge festive atmosphere at the station.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />A couple, in their 60s, Dr Bhupender Singh and Gunni from Punjab who flew from Adelaide, said it was a huge moment for for Indians living in Australia and there was a sense of excitement among the diaspora with Modi's visit.<br /><br />The passengers will be served with delicacies like 'Modi Dhokla' and 'Modi Fafda' by the organisers for free of cost.<br /><br />Meanwhile, hundreds of Indians living in Victoria came to see off the train and be a part of the historic moment.<br /><br />Gurbir Singh, a Melbourne resident also expressed his excitement. "Modi has given us a hope for the growth and a good future ahead," said Gurbir.<br />Organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP here, the service has been named as "Modi <br /><br />Express" to honour their leader and celebrate his first official visit as prime minister to Australia.<br /><br />"This Modi Express will be a hell of a party time for all of the passengers," according to Ashwin Bora, spokesperson for OFBJP's Melbourne Chapter.<br />People from several communities even locals here have booked their seats on this train, he said.<br /><br />With the support of rail authorities here, the train was specially decorated with tri-colour balloons, Modi's posters and banners and pictures of iconic places of India.<br /><br />Modi is expected to hold a public address on November 17 for which over 150,000 attendees have already registered.</p>