Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated six new Vande Bharat Express trains on Sunday, expanding the reach of India’s high-speed rail network. Initially planned to be flagged off from Tatanagar in Jharkhand, the ceremony was shifted online due to poor weather conditions, which prevented the PM’s helicopter from taking off.
Despite the change in plans, the launch marks a significant step towards enhancing regional connectivity and boosting various sectors in the states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.It added, “Indigenously designed under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, it offers cutting-edge features delivering luxury and efficiency to millions of passengers.”
Key routes
- Tatanagar-Patna
- Brahmpur-Tatanagar
- Rourkela- Howrah
- Deoghar-Varanasi
- Bhagalpur-Howrah
- Gaya-Howrah
“Six new Vande Bharat trains, projects worth more than Rs. 650 crores have been inaugurated with the purpose of providing the connectivity and travel facilities across the Nation. This will also enable the poor people of these states to have Pucca house under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana.
Modi said there was a time when modern development was limited to certain cities of the country, but the approach of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ has changed the mentality of the country.
Chief Public Relations Officer of EMR Saraswati Chandra said, “After Gaya Ganga-Ambaji Mail, Gaya will leave from Gaya at 23:00 and reach Koderma at 12:05, Parasnath at 13:25, Dhanbad at 14:30, Asansoat 15:40, Durgapur at 16:25 and reach Howrah at 19:00. Howrah by Vande Bharat train. On September 18, 22303/22304 Howrah-Gaya-Howrah Vande Bharat train will be operated regularly.
The details of the new trains are:
- Tatanagar-Patna Vande Bharat Express — It will operate six days a week. It will complete its journey in about seven hours. The train will depart from Tatanagar at 6 a.m. and arrive in Patna at 3 p.m. The return service will be from Patna at 3 p.m. and reach Tatanagar at 11 p.m.
- Deoghar-Varanasi route — This service will travel via the Kiul-Gaya route in Bihar, with a scheduled stop at Nawada. The Varanasi-Deoghar Vande Bharat Express will operate six days a week, except Tuesday.
- Tatanagar-Berhampur — The train will operate six days a week, excluding Tuesdays. This marks the fourth Vande Bharat Express for Odisha.
- Bhagalpur – Dumka – Howrah — The train will connect three states — Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- Gaya – Howrah — The Howrah-Gaya Vande Bharat Express will operate six days a week, covering a distance of 458 km (285 miles) in 5 hours and 40 minutes, with an average speed of 81 km/h. The regular service will begin on September 18 between Howrah and Gaya every day except Thursday.
- Rourkela-Howrah Vande Bharat — This train will have only three stoppages between the originating and destination stations and pass through Chakradharpur, Tatanagar and Kharagpur. The inaugural special will depart from Rourkela at 11 a.m. and reach Howrah at 6.15 p.m.
According to the Railway Ministry, as a flagship project of the ‘Make in India’ campaign, these semi-high-speed trains symbolise India’s ambition for a modern, efficient, and world-class rail system.
The first Vande Bharat train was inaugurated on February 15, 2019.
The Ministry said the train is capable of reaching a speed of up to 160 kmph, offering an unparalleled travel experience for millions of passengers.
“As of date (September 14, 2024), with a fleet of 54 trains (108 services), Vande Bharat has completed a total of around 36,000 trips and carried over 3.17 crore passengers,” the Railway Ministry said.
It added that Vande Bharat is India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured semi-high-speed train, which has showcased the nation’s engineering prowess.
According to the statement, the original Vande Bharat train set has now proliferated into Vande Bharat 2.0, boasting even more advanced features such as fast acceleration, Kavach, anti-virus system and WiFi, among others.
In addition to benefiting travellers, the new rail services are set to provide a boost to several key industries. The coal and mining industries in Dhanbad, jute industries in Kolkata, and the iron and steel sector in Durgapur are expected to gain from better connectivity. The introduction of these trains is seen as a way to improve the transportation of goods and workers, helping these industries grow.