The Prime Minister will flag off these trains from Varanasi (formerly Manduadih) railway station. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also be present on the occasion.

The new Vande Bharat Express will save around 2 hours and 40 minutes of travel time compared to the currently running special trains.

• PM Modi to flag off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi today
• The Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express will strengthen rail connectivity in central and western Uttar Pradesh.
• The Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express will provide faster and better connectivity between major cities of Punjab.

Varanasi:

Prime Minister Modi has gifted the country four new Vande Bharat Express trains. PM Modi flagged off four Vande Bharat Express trains at Varanasi Railway Station on Saturday. Addressing the public, PM Modi said, "Today, Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, Amrit Bharat trains are laying the foundation for the next generation of Indian Railways... Vande Bharat is a train made by Indians, for Indians and of Indians, which every Indian is proud of... Today, as India has started a campaign to improve its resources for a developed India, these trains are going to be a milestone in that."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Infrastructure has been a major reason for economic growth in developed countries across the world. In countries that have seen a lot of progress and development, infrastructure development has been a major force behind their progress... How many airports have been built, how many Vande Bharat trains have run, all these things are linked to development."

1. Among the trains that were flagged off today, the most prominent train is the Varanasi to Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express, which is being considered a big gift for the people of Kashi and Purvanchal.
2. The Prime Minister flagged off these trains from Banaras (formerly Manduadih) Railway Station.
3. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present on this occasion.
4. PM Modi also virtually flagged off three other Vande Bharat Express trains: the Lucknow to Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express, the Firozpur to Delhi Vande Bharat Express, and the Ernakulam to Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express.

"Every Indian is proud of Vande Bharat trains"

Addressing the nation from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said,

The new Vande Bharat Express will save approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to the currently operating special trains. This will provide passengers with a fast, comfortable, and modern travel experience. Furthermore, this train will provide pilgrims and tourists with easy access to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho, thereby providing a new dimension and economic impetus to the tourism industry.

Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express

The operation of the Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express will provide a new dimension to religious and cultural tourism. This train will connect religious and cultural destinations such as Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho. The government hopes this will not only promote religious and cultural tourism but also provide pilgrims and travelers with modern and comfortable rail connectivity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho.

Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express

The Vande Bharat Express, running from Lucknow to Saharanpur, will complete its journey in approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes, saving approximately 1 hour compared to existing special trains. This new Vande Bharat Express train will benefit passengers from Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and Saharanpur. It will also improve access to Haridwar via Roorkee. This will strengthen rail connectivity in central and western Uttar Pradesh.

Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat

The Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat train will be the fastest train on this route, completing its journey in 6 hours and 40 minutes. This train will strengthen connectivity between the national capital and major cities in Punjab, such as Firozpur, Bathinda, and Patiala. This is expected to benefit both trade and tourism.

Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat

The launch of the Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express train will enable the journey between these two important cities to be completed in 8 hours and 40 minutes, less than 2 hours compared to existing special trains. This new Vande Bharat Express train will connect major IT and commercial hubs, providing a faster travel option for IT professionals, students, and tourists. This route is expected to boost economic activity and tourism between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

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