Varanasi/New Delhi, 8 November (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated four new Vande Bharat Express trains from his parliamentary constituency, flagging off the Banaras-Khajuraho service from Platform 8 of the Banaras (Manduadih) railway station. The launch marks the introduction of the eighth Vande Bharat train for Varanasi.

The newly launched semi-high-speed trains will operate on the Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi, and Ernakulam-Bengaluru routes. These services are expected to significantly reduce travel times between major destinations, enhance regional mobility, boost tourism, and stimulate economic activity across the country.

The Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express will provide direct connectivity between the two cities, cutting travel time by approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to existing special trains. It will link major religious and cultural hubs such as Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Chitrakoot.

The Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express is set to complete its journey in about 7 hours and 45 minutes, benefiting passengers in Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and Saharanpur. It will also facilitate easier travel to Haridwar via Roorkee.

The Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express will be the fastest train on its route, strengthening connectivity between Delhi and key cities in Punjab, including Bathinda and Patiala.

The Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will cover its distance in 8 hours and 40 minutes, saving passengers more than two hours of travel time.

Upon his arrival at the station, Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

As the Prime Minister flagged off the new trains, the station resonated with chants of Har-Har Mahadev from the enthusiastic crowd of passengers.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the advanced features of the trains, stating, The air quality inside the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat is up to 99.9 percent pure. The T-18 (Vande Bharat) rakes are being further upgraded at the Integrated Coach Factory with even more advanced and convenient features.

He also noted the growing public interest in traveling via the Vande Bharat Express.The inaugural run to Khajuraho carried 520 school children, members of the media, and other invited guests. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) managed the catering services for the journey.

Due to the Prime Minister's event, several trains, including the Banaras-Dehradun Janta Express and the Banaras-LTT Superfast Express, were rescheduled, with updated information made available on the National Train Enquiry System (NTES).

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar