Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, September 15th, 2024, virtually inaugurated six new Vande Bharat Express trains for Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh from Ranchi. The launch was originally planned to take place at Tatanagar, but inclement weather and poor visibility forced the Prime Minister’s chopper to change course.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar were present at Tatanagar station to witness the virtual launch.
These six high-speed trains will operate on the following routes:
- Tatanagar-Patna
- Brahmapur-Tatanagar
- Rourkela-Howrah
- Deoghar-Varanasi
- Bhagalpur-Howrah
- Gaya-Howrah
The Prime Minister’s Office highlighted the significant benefits these trains will bring, including:
- Faster Connectivity: The Vande Bharat Express trains offer significantly reduced travel times, benefiting commuters, professionals, business travelers, and students alike.
- Boost to Religious Tourism: The trains will provide quicker access to pilgrimage sites such as Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar (Jharkhand), Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), and Kalighat and Belur Math in Kolkata (West Bengal), expected to attract more tourists to these sacred locations.
- Economic Growth: Industries in the region, including coal and mines in Dhanbad, jute industries in Kolkata, and the iron & steel allied sector in Durgapur, will benefit from the faster transportation facilitated by the Vande Bharat trains.
However, the Prime Minister’s scheduled roadshow in Jamshedpur was canceled due to heavy rains. State BJP president Babulal Marandi confirmed the cancellation on social media.
The launch of these new Vande Bharat Express trains marks another step forward in the Indian government’s ambitious plan to modernize the country’s rail network and provide efficient, high-speed transportation options for its citizens.
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