On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi on Saturday, marking yet another development in the expanding network of semi-high-speed trains across the country. The trains will ply on the Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, Firozpur–Delhi and Ernakulam–Bengaluru.
‘Infrastructure drives development’
Addressing a public gathering after the flag-off, PM Modi said that infrastructure has been central to the progress of many nations. “Infrastructure has played an important role in the development of most nations... The development of a city begins on its own as soon as it gets better connectivity... Infrastructure is not limited to huge bridges and highways," he said, adding that pilgrimages "awaken the country's conscience."
Also Read | 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’: PM Modi launches nationwide commemoration
He also said, “These trains not only connect heritage cities but also accelerate development. In the last 11 years, the developmental works in Uttar Pradesh have strengthened the economy. Last year, 11 crore devotees visited Baba Vishwanath, and over 6 crore devotees had darshan of Ram Lalla - their visits have contributed thousands of crores to the state’s economy."
Banaras-Khajuraho: Linking cultural heritage
The Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat will reduce the travel time to about 2 hours and 40 minutes, connecting two prominent cultural centres. It will pass via Prayagraj and Chitrakoot, providing easy access to the UNESCO World Heritage at Khajuraho and enhancing cultural and religious tourism in the region.
Lucknow-Saharanpur: Faster across the heartland up
The Lucknow–Saharanpur service will take approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes, reducing the travel time by almost an hour. It will help passengers from Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor and Saharanpur, and also further facilitate access to Haridwar via Roorkee.
Also Read | WATCH | British family goes viral praising Vande Bharat express, call indian train meals ‘delicious’
Firozpur-Delhi: Accelerating Punjab's trade links
The new Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat has emerged as the fastest train on this route, covering the journey in just 6 hours 40 minutes. With this, the connectivity between Delhi and key Punjab cities like Bathinda and Patiala has been strengthened, boosting commerce and tourism in the border belt.
Ernakulam-Bengaluru: South India’s fastest corridor
The Ernakulam–Bengaluru train will take a travel time of 8 hours 40 minutes in the south, thereby saving over two hours. The route will connect major IT, educational, and business hubs across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, offering professionals and students a faster and comfortable option to travel.
