PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat trains on six new routes

1. Tatanagar-Patna

2. Brahmapur-Tatanagar

3. Rourkela-Howrah

4. Deoghar-Varanasi

5. Bhagalpur-Howrah

6. Gaya-Howrah.

“Six new Vande Bharat trains, projects worth more than Rs. 650 crores, expansion of connectivity and travel facilities, and Pucca house to thousands of people under PMAY-G, I congratulate the people of Jharkhand for these projects,” the PM said.

Modi said there was a time when modern development was limited to certain cities of the country, but the approach of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ has changed the mentality of the country.

“Now the poor, Adivasi and Dalits are the priority of our nation. Women, farmers and youth are a priority… the whole region will develop with the expansion of rail services in Eastern India. The budget for railway development for Jharkhand is Rs. 7000 crores. If we compare this to the budget 10 years ago, it is 16 times more,” he said.

The prime minister also launched various projects worth Rs 660 crore from Ranchi. These include laying the foundation stone for the Madhupur bypass line in Deoghar district and the Hazaribag town coaching depot.

He also dedicated to the nation doubling of the Kurkura-Kanaroan line, which is a part of the Bondamunda-Ranchi single-line section and the Rourkela-Gomoh route via Ranchi, Muri and Chandrapura stations.

Tatanagar-Patna Vande Bharat train during its flag-off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (unseen), in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (PTI Photo)

The additions of six new trains today will expand the fleet of Vande Bharat trains from 54 to 60, facilitating 120 trips daily and serving over 280 districts across 24 states and union territories, the railway ministry announced on Saturday.

“These trains will boost religious tourism in the region by providing faster mode of commute to the pilgrimage sites like Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar (Jharkhand), Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Kalighat, Belur Math in Kolkata (West Bengal) etc. Apart from this, Coal Mines industries in Dhanbad, Jute industries in Kolkata, Iron & Steel allied industries in Durgapur will also get a major boost,” the PMO had stated in a press release earlier.

The railway ministry further highlighted that the original Vande Bharat train has evolved into Vande Bharat 2.0, featuring advanced enhancements such as faster acceleration, Kavach safety systems, anti-virus technology, and WiFi.

“With the introduction of Vande Bharat Express train services, Indian Railways is set to revolutionize travel in India. These trains not only showcase the success of the ‘Make in India’ initiative but also establish new global benchmarks for speed, safety, and service,” the ministry said.