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Varanasi, Nov 7 (IANS) On the eve of flagging off four new Vande Bharat Express trains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in Varanasi where he was given a warm welcome, an expression of public affection which he acknowledged in a post on social media, an official said.
PM Modi said, “Today after participating in programs in Bihar, I got the opportunity to visit Kashi, where I was overwhelmed by the grand welcome given by my family members.”
Sharing details of his programs on Saturday, he said, “Tomorrow, on November 8, from the city of Baba Vishwanath, at about 8.15 am, I will have the privilege of flagging off four new Vande Bharat Express trains along the Banaras-Khajuraho route. These trains will make travel more convenient and safe for people in many parts of the country, and will also boost tourism and trade.”
The launch, which will be a significant step towards expanding the country’s modern rail infrastructure, also promises better connectivity to Varanasi.
Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat will establish direct connectivity on this route and will save about 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to the special trains currently running.
Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express will connect some of the most iconic religious and cultural destinations of India including Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot and Khajuraho.
The link will not only strengthen religious and cultural tourism but will also provide fast, modern and comfortable travel to pilgrims and travelers to UNESCO World Heritage Site Khajuraho, an official statement said.
It said the green signal is another milestone in realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of providing citizens easier, faster and more comfortable travel through world-class railway services.
Other new Vande Bharat Express trains will run on Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi and Ernakulam-Bengaluru routes.
By significantly reducing travel time between major destinations, these trains will enhance regional mobility, boost tourism and support economic activity across the country, the statement said.
Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat journey will cover the journey in approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes, saving approximately 1 hour in travel time. This will benefit commuters from Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor and Saharanpur, and will also improve access to the holy city of Haridwar via Roorkee.
The official statement said that by ensuring smooth and fast intercity travel in Central and Western Uttar Pradesh, the service will play an important role in enhancing connectivity and regional development.
Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat will be the fastest train on this route, which will complete the journey in just 6 hours 40 minutes. Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express will strengthen connectivity between the national capital and major cities of Punjab including Firozpur, Bathinda and Patiala.
–IANS
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