Not so eco-friendly: AMC launches diesel-run train at Kankaria Carnival

Against tall claims of eco-friendly vehicles, the civic body has bought diesel-run replica of the bullet train. The train was dedicated by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on the first day of the 11th edition of the Kankaria Carnival.

During the inaugural event, Rupani remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"It took many years for India to get Surajya (good governance) after achieving swarajya (independence). Surajya was initiated by Atalji. It is because of Narendra Modi that we have achieved development, Rupani said.

He said many projects in Gujarat were pioneers in the country and helped the nation move forward on the path of development. All the declared smart cities in the state would be pollution free in the future with focused development. However, ironically, when the world is going for the non-fuel vehicles, a toy train that runs on diesel was inaugurated by him.

The civic body is aiming to reduce air pollution in the city and to reach its goal it has floated a tender to buy 300 electric bus. Six electric vans have been introduced at the Lakefront and in the past, when D Thats was the municipal commissioner, she had introduced battery operated two wheelers for the zoo and Kankaria staff with an aim to reduce air pollution. But it seems all the efforts were in vain.

The newly introduced train is a replica of the upcoming bullet train and has an 110 horsepower engine, said the operator of the train.

"People are waiting for the carnival. Kankaria lake is of historical importance. It was being developed as a picnic spot for long. The carnival is an added feature for people to enjoy," he said.

Informing about the upcoming 9th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, he said that for the first time the state is going to hold a vibrant shopping festival, which is touted to be better than the one in Dubai.

The official inauguration was delayed by more than an hour, and by that time many people had left. To show the magnitude of audience, officials of civic body were asked to sit in the auditorium.

As the event was started to honour former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by former chief minister on his birthday, the civic body also paid a tribute to Vajpayee on Tuesday. A five-minute long documentary was telecasted on his life. Later, Atal Ghat was inaugurated digitally.

The vibrant shopping festival and a theme song for the event was also launched at the carnival.

According to a visitor there was not fun at all this time. "Everywhere in the Lakefront promotional messages were heard, instead of musical extravaganza. Let's see what the coming days hold. I visit this regularly, this time there is lesser crowd too," said Vinay Patel, a resident of Maninagar.