PM Modi on Saturday, 8 November, flagged four new Vande Bharat trains from the Banaras Railway Station in Varanasi. The four trains include the Banaras-Khajuraho and the other three from different locations in the country.
The other three trains were the Ernakulam-Bengaluru, Lucknow-Saharanpur, and Delhi-Firozpur. PM Modi described these trains as important in building regional connectivity and providing mobility in the region, thereby improving economic progress. Vande Bharat is a self-propelled train which can run at a maximum speed of 180kmph; however, its operational speed is 160kmph maximum.
The train is popular for its aircraft-like features that include a reading light, bio-vacuum washrooms, and chair cars. It also comes with a modular mini pantry, European-type seats, and rotating seats in the Executive class.
The Prime Minister said that the trains will improve connectivity and give comfort to the locals. It will also reduce travel time and support economic activities.
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, was also present on the occasion. Mr Modi also talked about India’s fast progress with the inclusion of more Vande Bharat trains and flights coming from different countries, motivating exports and global reach. Emphasising the Amrit Bharat, Vande Bharat, and Namo Bharat trains, he said that these trains are changing the face of Indian Railways.
He further stated that in Uttar Pradesh, spiritual sites are the major attractions, and every development done in the past 11 years has been made keeping this in mind. Tourism in Uttar Pradesh has reached new heights, and devotees visiting the state are bringing in more money. Talking about Varanasi, he said that he hopes to make Varanasi a memorable experience for everyone who visits the state.
