Indian Railways to Name Train 'Nirbhaya' or 'Beti' after Delhi Gang Rape Victim

Indian Railways is expected to name one of its newly-announced trains after the 23-year-old Delhi gang rape victim.

According to various reports, the Railway Ministry will soon make a formal announcement of naming the Chhapra-Anand Vihar Express (weekly) either 'Nirbhaya' (Fearless) or 'Beti' (Daughter) soon.

The train will pass through Ballia district, the victim's hometown in Uttar Pradesh.

The physiotherapy intern was gang raped by six men including a minor on 16 Dec, 2012 in Delhi. She succumbed to her injuries a fortnight later in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore where she was taken to on hopes of receiving better treatment.

The proposed move to name a train after the girl has come two weeks after P Chidambaram in his annual budget presentation on 28 February announced the allocation up of a ₹1,000 crore budget Nirbhaya Fund for the purpose of empowering women in the country. "Nirbhaya" is the pseudo name given by an Indian English daily as a tribute to the victim.

P Chidambaram in his annual budget presentation at Parliament on 28 February announced the allocation up of a ₹1,000 crore budget Nirbhaya Fund for the purpose of empowering women in the country. "Nirbhaya" is the pseudo name given by an Indian English daily as a tribute to the victim.

Local leaders in Ballia were reported to have sent representations to Indian Railways for a train connecting Delhi to their town and suggested it to be named after the victim, reported PTI.

Railways Minister Bhansal announced the introduction of 19 more trains, in the railway debate in Parliament on Wednesday. Besides announcing the extension of three existing train routes, he also said that the frequency of five trains will be increased.

During the 2013-14 Railway Budget last month, Bhansal had announced the introduction of 106 new superfast, express, passenger, local/suburban trains.