In a bid to enhance railway connectivity across India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ten new Vande Bharat Express trains. These trains mark a significant addition to India's rail infrastructure, with Bengal receiving a notable inclusion among the ten newly launched routes.
The virtual inauguration ceremony took place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where the Prime Minister unveiled the semi-high-speed trains. Among the newly introduced routes, West Bengal will witness the operation of a new Vande Bharat Express from New Jalpaiguri to Patna.
Furthermore, two new Vande Bharat trains have been inaugurated on the Visakhapatnam-Puri and Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad lines. Additionally, eight more new Vande Bharat Express trains have been introduced on various routes, including Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central, Mysuru-Chennai Central, Patna-Lucknow, Lucknow-Dehradun, Kalaburagi-Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal Bengaluru, Ranchi-Varanasi, and Khajuraho-Delhi (Nizamuddin).
In addition to the inauguration of the Vande Bharat Express trains, Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stones for a staggering 85,000 crore rupees worth of railway projects across the nation. Notably, passenger and freight trains have also been inaugurated alongside the Vande Bharat Express trains. Among them, West Bengal welcomes the new intercity express, which will operate from Asansol to Hatia.
With the addition of these ten new Vande Bharat Express trains, India now boasts a network of 41 such trains, connecting 24 states and 256 districts, fostering greater connectivity and accessibility.
Taking to his official Twitter handle, Prime Minister Modi shared the news, stating, "In a short while from now, at around 9:15 AM, I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several projects covering sectors like railways and petrochemicals. Vande-Bharat trains and freight trains will also be flagged off. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras across different parts will be dedicated to the nation as well. Do join this programme."