In an official statement released on Monday, it was announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will personally and virtually inaugurate five new Vande Bharat Express trains from Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at approximately 10:30 AM.
The five Vande Bharat Express trains to be flagged off by the Prime Minister are as follows: Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express, Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express, Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express, Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, and Hatia-Patna Vande Bharat Express.
The Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express will enhance connectivity between the Mahakaushal Region (Jabalpur) and the Central Region (Bhopal) of Madhya Pradesh, benefiting popular tourist destinations such as Bhedaghat, Pachmarhi, and Satpura. This train will be approximately 30 minutes faster than the current fastest train on the route.
The Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express will improve connectivity between the Malwa Region (Indore) and the Bundelkhand Region (Khajuraho) with the Central Region (Bhopal). This will be particularly advantageous for tourists visiting significant sites like Mahakaleshwar, Mandu, Maheshwar, Khajuraho, and Panna. The train will be around 2 hours and 30 minutes faster than the existing fastest train on this route.
The Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express will be the first Vande Bharat Express in Goa, running between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai and Madgaon station in Goa. This train will reduce the travel time by approximately one hour compared to the current fastest train connecting these two destinations.
The Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will provide improved connectivity between the important cities of Dharwad, Hubballi, Davangere, and Bengaluru in Karnataka. This will greatly benefit tourists, students, and industrialists in the region. The train will be approximately 30 minutes faster than the fastest train currently operating on this route.
The Hatia-Patna Vande Bharat Express will be the first Vande Bharat Express serving the states of Jharkhand and Bihar. By enhancing connectivity between Patna and Ranchi, this train will be advantageous for tourists, students, and businessmen. It will save approximately one hour and twenty-five minutes of travel time compared to the current fastest train connecting these two cities.
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Additionally, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend a public program in Shahdol at around 3 PM, where he will pay tribute to Rani Durgavati, launch the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, and commence the distribution of Ayushman cards.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister will visit Pakaria village in Shahdol District, where he will interact with tribal community leaders, Self-Help Groups, PESA committee leaders (Panchayats [Extension to Scheduled Areas] Act, 1996), and Village Football Club Captains. He will also witness a cultural program by tribal and folk artists and conclude the visit with dinner in the village.