New Delhi: In keeping with the government’s plans to expand modern railway infrastructure in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch four more Vande Bharat Express services on November 8.
Modi will flag off the trains during his visit to Varanasi.
All but one of the four new Vande Bharat trains will serve north and central India.
The new routes are Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi and Ernakulam-Bengaluru.
The Vande Bharat trains will reduce travel time between major destinations, and also enhance regional mobility, promote tourism and support economic activity across the country.
The Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat service will save about 2 hours and 40 minutes on this route, compared to the special trains which are currently in operation, stated a PMO release.
This new service will connect some of India’s most revered religious and cultural destinations, including Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho. It will strengthen religious and cultural tourism, and provide pilgrims and travellers with a fast, modern and comfortable journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho.
The Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat will cover the journey in approximately 7 hours 45 minutes, saving nearly 1 hour of travel time. It will benefit passengers from Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor and Saharanpur, and also improve access to the holy city of Haridwar via Roorkee.
The Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat will be the fastest train on this route, covering the distance in 6 hours 40 minutes. It will strengthen connectivity between the National Capital and important cities in Punjab such as Firozpur, Bathinda and Patiala.
This new service will boost trade, tourism and employment opportunities, contributing to the socio-economic development of border regions and fostering greater integration with national markets.
The Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat will greatly help connectivity between Karnataka and Kerala, reducing travel time by over 2 hours, completing the journey in 8 hours and 40 minutes. The train will connect major IT and commercial hubs, providing professionals, students and tourists with a faster and more comfortable travel option.