Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the much-awaited Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express, the first for Odisha and the trains’s 17th edition, on Thursday.
The Prime Minister flagged off the ultra-modern semi-high-speed train equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities after laying the foundation stone and dedicating several railway projects worth more than Rs 8,000 crore in Odisha via video conferencing.
Modi also launched several transformative projects, including renovation of Cuttack and Puri railway stations, accelerating the progress of Odisha. The redeveloped stations will have all modern amenities providing world class experience to the rail passengers.
Speaking on the occasion virtually, the PM said when Vande Bharat travels from one place to another place, it represents the pace of progress of India. People of Odisha and West Bengal are getting the gift of Vande Bharat train, which is a symbol of modern India and aspirational Indians, Modi said.
Stating that the present ‘Amril Kaal’ is the time to further strengthen India’s unity, he said the greater the unity, the greater the collective strength of the country and these Vande Bharat trains will reflect this spirit.
Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and local MP Pinaki Mishra and MLA Jayanta Kumar Sarangi attended the launch event at Puri railway station.
Naveen Patnaik said it is a matter of delight that Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah was launched by the Prime Minister. He thanked Modi for the initiative.
The regular run of the semi high-speed train with 16 coaches will commence from May 20. It will cover a distance of 500 km between Howrah and Puri in about six and a half hours.
The service will be available six days a week, except Thursdays, and there will be seven stoppages – Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Khurda Road – between Puri and Howrah. The train will halt at these stations for two minutes only.
Modi also dedicated 100 per cent electrification of the rail network in Odisha and said it will reduce the operating and maintenance cost and reduce reliance on imported crude oil.
The Prime Minister also dedicated the doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line; a new broad gauge rail line between Angul and Sukinda; the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga and new broad-gauge line between Bichhupali-Jhartarbha.
These will cater to the increased traffic demands as a result of rapid industrial development in steel, power and mining sectors in Odisha and will also help ease the pressure on passenger traffic in these rail sections.
