Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Varanasi, Nov 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi and said pilgrimage sites across the country are being connected through the Vande Bharat network, a step towards making India’s heritage cities symbols of national progress.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, “Pilgrimage places are being connected through the Vande Bharat Network. This is a step towards making India’s heritage cities symbols of the country’s progress. These visits also have an economic dimension. Last year, 11 crore devotees visited Kashi for the Kashi Vishwanath pilgrimage. After the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, more than six crore devotees visited Ayodhya. This spiritual tourism will boost the economy of Uttar Pradesh. It has been very beneficial.”
“These devotees have supported hotel owners, traders and transport service providers, providing them a steady source of income,” he said.
“To fulfill the dream of a developed India, we are focusing on developing Kashi by strengthening the infrastructure. Along with this, we are also improving health facilities. About 10-11 years ago, people of Kashi did not have access to good health care. People suffering from cancer often had to sell their land to go to Mumbai for treatment. Today, our government has significantly improved the situation. People now save money through schemes like Jan Aushadhi and Ayushman Bharat. Kashi is gradually being recognized as the ‘health capital’. PM Modi said, we should continue this pace of development so that Kashi can become a prosperous and progressive city.
Meanwhile, four new Vande Bharat Express trains will run on the following routes: Varanasi-Khajuraho, Bengaluru-Ernakulam, Lucknow Junction-Saharanpur, and Firozpur Cantt-Delhi.
The fully air-conditioned Vande Bharat Express is a self-propelled train set capable of running at a maximum speed of 180 kmph, although it currently runs at a speed of 160 kmph on approved routes. The chair car service has many aircraft-style features such as individual reading lights, bio-vacuum toilets and ambient lighting.
Other modern features include automatic sliding doors, fully sealed gangways, European-style seats, rotating seats in the Executive Class, faster acceleration and braking, wider luggage racks, emergency call buttons and modular mini pantries.
–IANS
jk/red