3 min readChennaiSep 1, 2024 03:14 AM IST
First published on: Aug 31, 2024 at 10:32 AM IST
Flagging off three new Vande Bharat trains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that the Railways has made big strides in addressing long-standing issues and will not stop until it becomes a guarantee of comfortable travel for all sections of society.
The trains flagged off by PM through video conferencing connect Meerut with Lucknow, Madurai with Bengaluru, and Chennai with Nagercoil, taking the number of Vande Bharat trains above 100.
Modi said the nation is inching towards the goal of Viksit Bharat with Vande Bharat the new face of modernization of Indian Railways. “Today, 102 Vande Bharat railway services are being operated across the country and more than 3 crore people have travelled in these trains so far,” said Modi, adding that Vande Metro will soon be started to mitigate traffic woes in cities.
Pointing out that the rapid development of southern states was imperative to accomplish the goal of Viksit Bharat, the PM said, “Southern India is the land of immense talent, resources and opportunities.” “The temple city of Madurai is now connected with the IT city of Bengaluru,” he said, referring to the Vande Bharat trains in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The development of Tamil Nadu, along with the entire southern India, is the government’s priority, he said.
More than `6,000 crore has been allocated for Tamil Nadu’s rail Budget this year while over `7,000 crore allocated for Karnataka, he said, adding that eight Vande Bharat trains are connecting different parts of Karnataka.
The PM said that over `2.5 lakh crore was allocated to the Railways in the 2024 Union Budget and underlined that the government was connecting Railways with high-tech services to transform its old image.
Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat train will cover 726.06 km in 8.50 hours and cut down travel time by almost 2 hours compared to the existing faster trains. Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat — the fourth connecting Tamil Nadu and Karnataka — will cover 578 km in 8 hours and save around one and a half hours. Passengers taking the Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat will save around 1 hour compared to the current fastest train between the two cities.
PM Modi said that with the introduction of Vande Bharat in Meerut, the distance to Lucknow has also been reduced. “NCR is becoming an example of how PM Gatishakti’s vision will change the country’s infrastructure with modern trains, network of expressways, and expansion of air services,” he said.
PK Selvan, ADRM, Trichy Division of Southern Railways, said that the recent introduction of Vande Bharat services on Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil and Madurai-Coimbatore routes will significantly enhance rail connectivity to southern districts of Tamil Nadu. “These new services are poised to provide faster, more efficient travel options, further integrating the region’s major cities and boosting economic and cultural ties,” said the official.
It will also bolster links to key industrial, business and tourist hubs, including Trichy, Madurai, Dindigul and Tirunelveli, he said.
The Vande Bharat Express leaves from Chennai Railway Station on Saturday. (Express Photo) 
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