‘Modi Express,’ a special train carrying over 220 passengers on their way to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first public lecture in Sydney, was flagged off on Sunday by an Australian minister here.

Victorian Multicultural Minister Matthew Guy flagged off the train at Southern Cross station, the rail and transport hub for Melbourne. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia in 28 years.

The ‘Modi Express’ was organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP here.

Passengers from several communities, including Punjabis, Muslims, Gujaratis and Kashmiris, boarded the train of four bogies at 8 pm local time.

Festive atmosphere

The passengers danced and sang patriotic songs before boarding the train, creating a huge festive atmosphere at the station.

The minister, who flagged off the train with an Indian flag, said Modi’s visit holds huge significance for the Indian Diaspora in Australia and also for the Indo-Australian relationship.

Bhupender Singh and Gunni, a couple in their 60s, who flew from Adelaide, said it was a huge moment for Indians living in Australia and there was a sense of excitement among the diaspora about Modi’s visit.

The passengers were to be served free delicacies such as ‘Modi Dhokla’ and ‘Modi Fafda’ by the organisers during the overnight journey.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Indians living in Victoria came to see off the train and be a part of the historic moment.

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