Prayagraj, Oct 31 (HS): Today,

an important milestone was achieved towards the expansion of rail connectivity

and modern passenger facilities in the Sangam city of Prayagraj. Uttar

Pradesh's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, one of the most modern rail

services in the country, was given a grand welcome at Prayagraj Junction. This

important rail service, which started between Varanasi and New Delhi, was flagged

off by Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath and Union Railway

Minister, Ashwini Vaishnav, by flagging off the inaugural special train

(Varanasi-New Delhi) from Varanasi Railway Station. This new service has

expanded the modern night rail connectivity between Kashi, Sangam city

Prayagraj and the national capital.

Many eminent

public representatives including the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav

Prasad Maurya, Cabinet Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Nand Gopal Gupta

'Nandi', Mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani, District Panchayat Chairman V.K.

Singh, Legislative Council Member (MLC) – Surendra Chaudhary and MLA Phulpur Deepak

Patel were present at the welcome ceremony held at Prayagraj Junction.

Divisional Railway Manager, Prayagraj, Rajneesh Agarwal, senior officers,

employees and dignitaries of the headquarters and division were also present at

the ceremony.

On this occasion,

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, in his address, described the

launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express as a significant achievement for

Prayagraj and the entire region. He said that under the leadership of Prime

Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Railways is setting new standards of modernity,

technological advancement, and improved passenger amenities. The continued

expansion of rail infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh is giving new impetus to the

state's development journey. Connecting a city of historical, religious, and

educational significance like Prayagraj with this modern rail service is a

major gift for the people of the region. This will provide improved travel

facilities to students, businessmen, working professionals, pilgrims, and

tourists, and will also boost economic, educational, and tourism-related

activities in the region.

In his address,

Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi', Cabinet Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said

that the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express symbolizes modern India's technological

capabilities and evolving rail infrastructure. This service, connecting

important cities like Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Kanpur to the national capital,

will further strengthen the state's connectivity. He noted that Prayagraj is an

important center for education, trade, culture, and religious tourism.

Consequently, this modern rail service will provide improved transportation for

the region's citizens and open new opportunities for trade, tourism, and other

economic activities.

The Sleeper

Vande Bharat Express, which arrived at Prayagraj Junction at 6:53 PM, was given

a grand welcome with drums, chanting, and flower showers. The youth and

students who witnessed this historic moment were extremely excited about the

train's modern design, facilities, and speed. Many families and students

captured this unique journey and historic moment on their cameras, reflecting

their pride in the country's modern rail transport. The dignitaries present at

the ceremony then flagged off the train for its next destination. At the end of

the function, Honorable Cabinet Minister Shri Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi' gave

away prizes to the winning children of various competitions, encouraged them

and wished them a bright future.

New night

travel facility for Prayagraj passengers: Operating between Varanasi and New

Delhi, the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express connects important urban centers of

Uttar Pradesh, stopping at major stations such as Prayagraj, Kanpur Central,

Aligarh, and Ghaziabad. This service is of particular importance to Prayagraj,

as a large number of students, competitive exam aspirants, working

professionals, businessmen, government employees, patients and their families,

and pilgrims travel to Delhi and surrounding areas daily. Therefore, the

availability of a comfortable night train service is a vital convenience for

passengers. Traveling overnight and reaching their destination the next day

will allow passengers to better utilize their time. This will especially

benefit those traveling to Delhi for higher education, competitive exams,

employment, business meetings, and administrative work.

Connectivity

from Kashi to Sangam and from Sangam to the capital will be strengthened:

Varanasi and Prayagraj are major centers of Indian culture, spiritual

consciousness, and religious tourism. Varanasi, the city of Kashi Vishwanath,

attracts devotees from India and abroad, while Prayagraj, renowned for its

Triveni Sangam, Akshayavat, the Big Hanuman Temple, and historical religious

sites, has its own distinct identity. Global events like the Maha Kumbh have

further expanded Prayagraj's international recognition. Connecting these two

cities to the national capital through modern rail services will promote

religious and cultural tourism and facilitate passenger movement. Improved

connectivity is also likely to benefit tourism, local trade, the hotel and

service sectors, and the regional economy.

Modern

technology and a new comfortable travel experience: The Vande Bharat Sleeper

Express has been specially designed for long-distance overnight travel.

Equipped with modern technology, advanced safety systems, comfortable sleeping

arrangements, improved hygiene, and passenger amenities, this train is a

significant effort by Indian Railways to make long-distance travel more

comfortable. Its modern infrastructure and passenger-centric features will

provide passengers with a superior rail travel experience.

The addition of

the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express to Prayagraj is not just the beginning of a

new train service, but also a new chapter in the Sangam city's development

journey, marking a new chapter in improved connectivity. The operation of this

train has not only paved the way for easy and comfortable overnight travel, but

has also opened new avenues for business, education, tourism, and employment at

the local level. People from all walks of life present at the ceremony

expressed satisfaction and joy that this gift from the country will prove to be

a milestone in the development of their region. On this occasion, officials and

employees from Headquarters and Division, public representatives, members of

Railway Users' Consultative Committees, representatives of the press and media,

and the general public were present.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi