Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, Amrit Bharat Laying Next-Gen Railways: PM Modi

GG News Bureau
Varanasi, 8th Nov: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, in a significant expansion of India’s modern rail infrastructure. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister extended greetings to the families of Varanasi and noted the ongoing Dev Deepawali celebrations.

Highlighting infrastructure as a key driver of national development, PM Modi said, “Trains like Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat are laying the foundation for the next generation of Indian Railways.” He described Vande Bharat as a train made by Indians, for Indians, and of Indians, inspiring pride across the nation.

The newly launched trains include:

• Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat: Cutting 2 hours 40 minutes off current travel, connecting Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho.
• Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat: Completing the journey in 7 hours 45 minutes, improving access to Haridwar via Roorkee.
• Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat: Fastest on the route at 6 hours 40 minutes, strengthening connectivity in Punjab.
• Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat: Completing journey in 8 hours 40 minutes, linking IT and commercial hubs in South India.

PM Modi emphasized the cultural and spiritual significance of connecting holy sites such as Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Haridwar, Chitrakoot, and Kurukshetra. “These holy sites are now being connected through the Vande Bharat network; this is a convergence of India’s culture, faith, and development journey,” he said, underscoring the transformation of heritage cities into symbols of national progress.

He also highlighted Varanasi’s economic revival through pilgrimage tourism, noting that millions of devotees visiting Baba Vishwanath and Ram Lalla temples have contributed significantly to local businesses, hotels, and artisans. PM Modi praised the city’s infrastructure growth, including hospitals, ropeways, roads, gas networks, and sports facilities, aimed at making Banaras a unique experience for residents and visitors alike.

Acknowledging the presence of students at the flag-off, PM Modi lauded their paintings and poems on themes like Viksit Bharat and Viksit Kashi. He suggested organizing a Children’s Literary Meet to nurture young talent further.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, and several Union Ministers participated in the event either physically or via videoconference.

The inauguration of these four Vande Bharat trains is a key milestone in PM Modi’s vision of faster, safer, and more comfortable rail travel, promoting tourism, regional connectivity, and economic development across India.