As many as 75 Vande Bharat Express trains will connect India’s far-off areas in 75 weeks, announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, as part of the Centre’s ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative.
The project, which marks 75 years of our independence, has many events being organised to pay tribute to the freedom struggle. The Mahotsav began on March 12 this year and will end on August 15, 2023.
देश ने संकल्प लिया है कि आजादी के अमृत महोत्सव के 75 सप्ताह में 75 वंदेभारत ट्रेनें देश के हर कोने को आपस में जोड़ रही होंगी प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी#AzadiKaAmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/X2iH3LxSyx
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) August 15, 2021
India has had only two Vande Bharat train routes go live so far. These are train no.s 22436/22435 connecting New Delhi (NDLS) with Varanasi Junction (BSB) and train no.s 22439/22440 connecting New Delhi (NDLS) with Katra (SVDK).
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As of today, only the New Delhi–Katra trains are running, with their tickets available for booking on ixigo. You can check these Vande Bharat trains’ running status and timetables on our app.
The Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high speed intercity electric train fitted with modern facilities. This includes revolving seats, CCTVs, automatic doors, charging points at every seat, disability-friendly toilets and on-board WiFi access.
Also known as Train 18, it has achieved speeds of 180km/hr during trials, making it India’s fastest passenger train.
Northeastern capitals to get rail links
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort yesterday, the PM also shared that rail connectivity will be boosted in northeast India, and that all of its state capitals will be connected by trains soon.
Currently, the capital cities of Nagaland (Kohima), Meghalaya (Shillong), Mizoram (Aizawl) and Manipur (Imphal) do not have rail links, while the entire state of Sikkim does not have a passenger railway station.
The PM also added that under India’s Act East Policy, the northeastern states are being connected to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Southeast Asia. The policy, which began in 1992, aims to promote economic, cultural and strategic relations with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
We hope you found this train update useful. Stay tuned for more!
Feature image credit: @VandeBharatExp/Twitter
