In a remarkable display of infrastructure development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate an astounding nine Vande Bharat Express trains in a single day, encompassing various destinations, including the pivotal states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This monumental launch, scheduled for September 24, marks a significant milestone for India’s rail network.
These new Vande Bharat trains make their debut nearly two months after the inauguration of the Gorakhpur-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express and Jodhpur-Sabarmati Vande Bharat Express on July 7. Notably, the Prime Minister will undertake this virtual inauguration ceremony from New Delhi.
The first of these remarkable Vande Bharat Express trains, sporting a vibrant orange livery, is destined for South India, with the Kasaragod-Trivandrum route selected for its maiden journey in the new color scheme. While eight of the nine new trains maintain the classic blue-and-white color scheme, the ninth train boasts a distinctive orange-and-white combination, with plans for ten more of these eye-catching models in the pipeline.
The Vande Bharat Express fleet expansion will see the launch of services on the Indore-Jaipur, Jaipur-Udaipur, Puri-Rourkela, Patna-Howrah, and Jaipur-Chandigarh routes. These additions complement the previously announced routes, including Chennai-Tirunelveli, Ranchi-Howrah, Jamnagar-Ahmedabad, and Chennai-Hyderabad.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will be present at either the Odisha or Rajasthan launch, underscoring the significance of these additions to these regions’ connectivity. The Puri-Rourkela Vande Bharat service will become the second such offering in Odisha following the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat’s successful introduction.
Rajasthan, which already benefits from a Vande Bharat service to Jaipur, is set to receive two additional trains this month, further enhancing its rail network. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh, home to an existing Vande Bharat service for Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Ujjain, will soon welcome a new addition for Indore.
Presently, India enjoys the operation of 25 Vande Bharat trains nationwide. With nine more poised for launch next Sunday, the total count of these high-speed, technologically advanced trains will increase to an impressive 34.
