Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the nation’s first Vande Metro train on Monday, September 16, 2024, from Ahmedabad. The launch of this new train service is a milestone, as it is scheduled just one day before the Prime Minister’s birthday. This new metro service will operate between Ahmedabad and Bhuj, providing a fast and efficient mode of transportation for thousands of passengers traveling between these two key cities in Gujarat. The Vande Metro will run six days a week.

Details On Train Timings & Halts

The train will depart from Bhuj at 5:05 am and will arrive in Ahmedabad at 10:50 am. In the reverse direction, it will leave Ahmedabad at 5:30 pm and reach Bhuj at 11:10 pm. The journey time for this metro service is approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes, with stops at nine intermediate stations. These stops include Anjar, Gandhidham, Bhachau, Samakhiali, Halvad, Dhrangadhra, Viramgam, Chandlodiya, and Sabarmati, with each stop averaging about 2 minutes.

This new Vande Metro service is notable for being the first metro operation in the state of Gujarat, marking a remarkable development in the state’s transport infrastructure. It is also the first metro service within the Indian Railway network, adding further importance to its launch. The train is expected to greatly enhance convenience for passengers commuting between Ahmedabad and Bhuj, reducing travel time and offering a comfortable, modern journey experience.

Details On Fare System

In terms of ticket pricing, the Railway Ministry has introduced a season ticket structure that offers flexibility for frequent travelers. Weekly, fortnightly and monthly season tickets will be priced at the equivalent of 7, 15 and 20 single journeys, respectively. The minimum chargeable fare has been set at Rs 30, which includes GST.

Additionally, the fare will be rounded off to the next higher multiple of Rs 5. Normal child fare rules will apply, and concessional fares or tickets issued against complimentary passes that are not reimbursed will not be valid for this service.

GST at 5% will also be applied to clerkage charges. The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has been tasked with making the necessary software updates to implement the fare structure and ensure smooth operations.

The launch of the Vande Metro is expected to be a game changer in the region, improving connectivity and offering a high-speed, efficient transportation option for passengers.

In a massive boost to the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the state Assembly elections, the Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to its national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case registered by the CBI in the alleged excise policy scam. 

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan granted bail to Kejriwal saying prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty. 

It also put in place 5 conditions for Kejriwal to follow, including those set in earlier when he got relief in the ED case:

These new conditions include: 

– The apex court granted bail to Kejriwal, subject to bail bonds of Rs10 lakh.

– The Delhi CM cannot comment on the ongoing Delhi liquor policy case.

– Kejriwal will have to be present for trial unless exempted by the courts.

– He cannot sign official documents.

– Kejriwal can’t enter the Chief Minister’s office or the Delhi secretariat while out on bail.

Justice Bhuyan, during the hearing, questioned the CBI for arresting Kejriwal, saying that such action by CBI raises serious questions on the timing of the arrest and such an arrest by CBI only fractured the bail granted in the ED case.

Keeping Kejriwal incarcerated would be travesty of justice: SC

He said keeping Kejriwal incarcerated when he is on bail in the ED case would be a travesty of justice. He further said Kejriwal was granted bail in the ED case and further detention in the CBI case is wholly untenable. 

Justice Bhuyan also said that bail is the rule and jail is an exception. “The process of trial or steps leading to arrest should not become harassment,” said the judge.

CBI arrest is “unjustified”, says court

CBI arrest is “unjustified” and thus Kejriwal should be released forthwith, said Justice Bhuyan.

Earlier, the apex court had reserved the verdict on September 5 after hearing counsels representing Kejriwal and CBI.

During the hearing of the case, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for CBI, objected to Kejriwal for not approaching the trial court for bail.

Kejriwal had directly approached the Delhi High Court for bail and then moved to the apex court. On August 5, the Delhi High Court upheld the arrest of the Chief Minister as “legal.” It had dismissed Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest, saying it was only after sufficient evidence was collected and sanction was obtained in April 2024 that the CBI proceeded with further probe against him.

The High Court had said there was no malice in the acts of the CBI, which demonstrated how Kejriwal could influence witnesses who could muster the courage to depose only after his arrest. It had said Kejriwal is not an ordinary citizen but a distinguished recipient of the Magsaysay Award and the convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party.

“The control and the influence which he has on the witnesses is prima facie borne out from the fact that these witnesses could muster the courage to be a witness only after the arrest of the petitioner, as highlighted by the special prosecutor,” it had said in its order.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, 2024, in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22. On June 26, 2024, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by CBI while he was in custody of the Enforcement Directorate in the excise case.

In a major relief for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him bail in a corruption case registered by CBI in the alleged excise policy scam. Supreme Court observed that prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty.

The bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan pronounced the order.

They stated that Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI is legal. According to Bar and Bench, the AAP chief will be released subject to a bail bond of Rs. 10 lakh.

Placing conditions on Kejriwal’s release, the court said he cannot make public comments about the case. Kejriwal has been asked to appear for trial unless exempted.

In the last hearing, the CBI opposed Kejriwal’s bail plea, stating he directly approached the High Court without first going to the Sessions Court.

ASG SV Raju, counsel for the CBI, had argued before the court that Kejriwal used his influence to harass an excise license holder from Punjab through his party-led government.

The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is lodged in Tihar Jail, is expected to walk out of the jail this evening after nearly five months of incarceration.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while he was in judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) related to the same scam.

Following this, the Delhi CM approached the High Court challenging his arrest. On August 5, the Delhi High Court refused Kejriwal’s petition and asked him to approach the trial court for bail.

After the setback from the High Court, Kejriwal filed two pleas before the apex court, challenging the legality of his arrest by the CBI and seeking bail.

After hearing all sides in the case, the bench reserved its verdict on September 5.

The court granted the bail plea and rejected the second plea challenging the legality of his arrest.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan’s scathing observation against CBI

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, in his separate judgment, lashed out at the CBI and stated that Kejriwal’s arrest by the agency after securing bail in the ED case was only intended to frustrate his release from prison. “The CBI did not feel the need to arrest him, even though he was interrogated in March 2023, and it was only after his ED arrest was stayed that the CBI became active and sought custody of Kejriwal. Thus, there was no need for his arrest for over 22 months. Such actions by the CBI raise serious questions about the timing of the arrest, and this arrest by the CBI was solely to frustrate the bail granted in the ED case,” Bar and Bench quoted Justice Bhuyan as saying.

He further criticised the Central probe agency, stating, “The CBI must be seen as above board, and every effort must be made to ensure that arrests are not carried out in a high-handed manner. In this country, perception matters, and the CBI must dispel the notion of being a ‘caged parrot’ and show that it is an uncaged parrot. The CBI should be like Caesar’s wife, above suspicion,” he said in his order.

Investigative agencies have accused Kejriwal of misconduct in drafting the now-scrapped 2021-22 Delhi excise policy.

Kejriwal was initially arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with the case.

Although the Supreme Court later granted him interim bail in the ED case, he remained in jail because the CBI formally arrested him on June 26 while he was already in judicial custody related to the ED investigation.