PM Flags Off First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off India's first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati, and launched several rail and road infrastructure projects worth Rs 3,250 crore in West Bengal.

- Press Trust Of India

At a public function in Malda in north Bengal, the Prime Minister virtually flagged off four Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting New Jalpaiguri with Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli, and Alipurduar with SMVT Bengaluru and Mumbai (Panvel).

Modi launched the country’s most advanced and the first set of Vande Bharat sleeper trains between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town railway station.

He also virtually flagged off the return Guwahati-Howrah Vande Bharat sleeper train from here.

The fully air-conditioned sleeper train is expected to cut travel time on the Howrah-Guwahati route by around 2.5 hours. Currently, it takes nearly 18 hours from Howrah to Guwahati by train.

Speaking at the function, Modi said the projects, especially the new trains, will empower the youth of the region.

“There was a time when we used to watch the developed foreign nations and dreamt of such modern trains in our country. Today that dream has come true. The new Vande Bharat sleeper train has connected the holy land of Maa Kali to that of Maa Kamakhya,” he said.

India has both modernised its transport facilities and made the country self-reliant, Modi said.