New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through a virtual inauguration, launched nine Vande Bharat Express trains, including two on the South Central Railways (SCR), expanding the high-speed rail network to connect religious and tourist destinations across 11 states.
Addressing the nation during the ceremony, PM Modi highlighted India’s achievements, including ISRO’s lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, the solar mission Aditya L1, and India’s hosting of the G20 Summit. He emphasized the significant strides made in infrastructure development, aligning with the aspirations of India’s 1.4 billion citizens.
The Vande Bharat Express trains are a key element of India’s modernization of rail travel. They are manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai and are renowned for their speed and efficiency. PM Modi stated, “Today, people from Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gujarat will benefit from the Vande Bharat Express service. These trains embody the renewed energy of our nation.”
Highlighting their popularity, PM Modi noted, “The Vande Bharat trains have gained immense popularity, with over 11 million passengers having already experienced their service.”
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was present during the inauguration, emphasizing the government’s commitment to improving rail connectivity and providing world-class facilities to passengers.
In an effort to further enhance rail travel, the Indian Railways plans to launch a sleeper version of the Vande Bharat Express before the fiscal year ends next year. The semi-high-speed train series will also introduce a non-air conditioned push-pull version with 22 coaches and a locomotive in October 2024. The sleeper version is slated to be rolled out by March 2024.
This expansion will notably reduce travel times across several major routes, benefiting passengers in states such as Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.
With these new additions, the Vande Bharat Express network aims to connect every corner of India, reflecting the country’s commitment to modernizing its transportation infrastructure.
