Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off high speed train Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.
Launching the world-class new train via video conferencing, the prime minister said the Vande Bharat Express will boost connectivity and ease of living for the people.
"Railway and metro projects being launched in West Bengal will improve connectivity and further 'Ease of Living' for the people," the prime minister said during the launch.
The ultra-modern Semi High-Speed Train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities. The train will stop at Malda Town, Barsoi and Kishanganj stations en route in both directions.
“Land from where the call of Vande Matram originated, saw the flagging off of Vande Bharat today,” Modi said, recalling that on December 30, 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Tricolour in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and set the wheels in motion for the independence of India.
India has resolved to start 475 Vande Bharat trains during the celebrations of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the train being flagged off from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri is one of them, Modi said.
Modi also inaugurated the Joka-Taratala Stretch of the Joka-Esplanade Metro Project (Purple Line).
The 6.5 km stretch having 6 stations namely Joka, Thakurpukur, Sakher Bazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar and Taratala has been constructed at a cost of more than Rs 2,475 crore.
The prime minister linked reforms and development of Indian Railways with the development of the country. That is why, he said, the Central government is making record investments in the modern railway infrastructure. A nationwide campaign is going on to transform the Indian Railway, he said.
He listed modern trains like Vande Bharat, Tejas Hum Safar and VistaDome coaches and the modernisation of Railway Stations including New Jalpaiguri, doubling and electrification of Railway lines as examples of this modernization.
He also mentioned eastern and Western dedicated freight corridors as projects that will bring revolutionary changes in the logistics sector.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaisnav, Union Ministers of State John Barla, Dr Subhas Sarkar and Nisith Parmanik and MP Prasoon Banerjee were present at the occasion among others.
