Flagging off three new Vande Bharat Express trains, PM Modi called this a new chapter in the development journey of India
In a major fillip to India’s rail infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off three new Vande Bharat Express trains on Saturday. These new trains will ply between Meerut-Lucknow, Madurai-Bengaluru, and Chennai-Nagercoil. This addition is another milestone as the country feels the ripple of the ambitious railway expansion plans in heightening connectivity and promoting regional development.
New Chapter in Journey of Development of India
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi put these new routes in perspective within the larger narrative of India’s growth story, calling them a new chapter in the vikas yatra of the country. He said the new trains would provide major thrust to the aspiration for viksit Bharat in the form of enhanced connectivity of key cities in various regions.
Today, from north to south, a new chapter is getting added into the vikas yatra of the country. Vande Bharat train service will now connect Meerut and Lucknow, Madurai and Bengaluru, and Chennai and Nagercoil,” PM Modi said. “With this expansion of trains, we are moving closer to our dream of a Viksit Bharat. These three new Vande Bharat trains will connect key and historic cities in the country, making travel faster and efficient.
The Prime Minister also flagged off the importance of regional connectivity in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat. The government is trying to open up the economy of different regions by improving connectivity in all ways in order to contribute to national progress.
Chennai-Nagercoil Vande Bharat Route
One of them is the newly inaugurated Chennai-Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express, all set to change the face of travel in Tamil Nadu. This would be a 726-kilometer journey, connecting Chennai with Nagercoil, traversing important districts of Tamil Nadu like Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Trichy, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, and Chennai. This is expected to give people a modern and swifter travel experience of these districts, reducing the time taken by more than half.
It leaves Chennai Egmore at 5 am, reaches Nagercoil at 1:50 pm, and in the return direction leaves Nagercoil at 2:20 pm to reach Chennai at about 11 pm. This will, therefore, meet the requirements of business as well as tourism travelers by way of convenience and accessibility.
The southern states are very important for India’s trajectory of growth, pointed out PM Modi. “The dream of a developed India can only be achieved by taking the growth trajectory of the southern states to a higher and stronger level. This region is replete with talent, resources, and opportunities. Therefore, our government works on the development of the whole South, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and beyond,” he said.
Madurai-Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat Route
Another major announcement includes the introduction of the Madurai-Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat Express, plying six days a week. This particular train will help improve the connectivity of Madurai-a vital cultural and historical city in Tamil Nadu-with Bengaluru, the IT capital of India. The route shall facilitate business travelers, students, and working professionals traveling between these two cities.
According to the proposed schedule, the train will leave Madurai at 5.15 am and reach Bengaluru Cantonment by 1 pm with a stop in Dindigul, Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Namakkal, Salem and Krishnarajapuram. The train will leave Bengaluru at 1.30 p.m. and reaches Madurai by 9.45 p.m.
Therefore, the Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express should connect these two prominent cities and catapult economic growth, trade, and cultural exchanges. The journey of the train through various key towns shall boost the local economy with quick and efficient transport.
Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Route
The third new route is the Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express, which will be the third service to connect Meerut with Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. It will ply six days a week, excluding Tuesdays, aiming at enhancing connectivity between the industrial regions of Meerut and the administrative hub of Lucknow.
It will leave Meerut City at 6:35 am and reach the Charbagh railway station in Lucknow at 1:45 pm, stopping at Moradabad and Bareilly. On its return journey, the train will leave Charbagh at 2:45 pm and will reach Meerut City at about 10 pm. With this service, the industries in the Meerut region are likely to get a fillip with this fast and efficient linkage to Lucknow, which would spur trade and economic activities.
Boosting India’s Railway Infrastructure
These three new Vande Bharat Express trains will add to the other initiatives in place to upgrade the Indian railway infrastructure and connectivity across the nation. The government is putting emphasis on improving rail connectivity to cut down on travel time, ensure more efficiency, and provide passengers with a modern and comfortable way of travel.
The prime minister, Modi, in general, assured the commitment of his government, especially to develop the railway sector in the southern states. “We have allocated more than 6,000 crore rupees to the railway budget to Tamil Nadu in this year’s budget. This is over seven times the allocation in 2014,” he said, pointing out the increased investment of the government in the sector.
Conclusion
With the addition of these three new Vande Bharat Express trains, the journey of India towards a more connected and developed nation goes on. These trains will go a long way in achieving better connectivity between various cities and regions and play an important role in economic growth and trade, besides ensuring an improved travel experience for the passengers. As India moves into the expansion of its rail network, such initiatives show the will of the government in building a strong and efficient transportation infrastructure, opening up a bright and prosperous future.
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