Title - Governor-designate Alva takes train to Jaipur

Rajasthan's Governor-designate Margaret Alva arrived here early on Friday by train from the Uttarakhand capital Dehra Dun. Perhaps the first Governor-designate in recent times to arrive by train for taking the oath, Ms. Alva was given a warm welcome at Jaipur railway station by a large number of dignitaries including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Leader of the Opposition Vasundhara Raje.Ms. Alva, till now the Governor of Uttarakhand, is scheduled to take the oath at Raj Bhavan here at 5-30 p.m. on Saturday.As Governor-designate, Ms. Alva was entitled to an aircraft for reaching the State capital but she chose the rail route which aroused some curiosity. That could be one reason for people to line up along the route from the railway station to Raj Bhavan.Her arrival by the Haridwar-Ahmedabad Mail necessitated a change in daily routine for at least some of the dignitaries who had to make it to the railway station at the unearthly hour of 4-15 in the morning when the train reached the Pink City railway station. Ms. Alva and her entourage, which included her husband Niranjan Alva, waited for day-break in the special saloon.Ms. Alva was offered a bouquet by Mr. Gehlot. Urban Development Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Minister for Environment & Forests Bina Kak and Revenue Minister Hemaram Choudhary were among those present. Jaipur Mayor Jyoti Khandelwal, State Chief Secretary C. K. Mathew, Director General of Police Harish Chandra Meena, senior officers of the State administration, the police and the Army were also present.Ms. Alva took the salute of jawans of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary and inspected a parade. She waved at the people standing along the way from the railway station to Raj Bhavan. From the Uttarakhand Raj Bhavan, Varindrajeet Singh, Sunita Nandwani, Hansi Brijwasi and Kamruddin accompanied Ms.Alva to Jaipur.

Besides Mr. Alva, the couple's children -- sons Nireth, Nikhil and Nivedit, along with daughter Manira -- are expected to attend the oath ceremony.

Lalit Bohra, Chief Public Relations Officer of North Western Railway, said the Railways followed the protocol with regards to the Governor's travel. “A first class A/C coach was attached to the VVIP saloon. Once the train reached Jaipur station we detached the coaches to allow the Haridwar-Ahmedabad Express to proceed on its onward journey,” Mr. Bohra said.

In Rajasthan, Governors do travel by trains as the summer camp of Raj Bhavan is in Mount Abu. “President Pratibha Patil when she was Governor of the State used to travel in a special saloon to Abu Road,” Mr. Bohra noted.