Varanasi:
In a historic moment for India's rail infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday flagged off a second Vande Bharat Express between Varanasi and New Delhi.
The Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Dohrighat-Mau MEMU train and a few long-distance freight trains were flagged off by the Prime Minister at the recently inaugurated Dedicated Freight Corridor.
The highlight of the event was the 10,000th locomotive made by Banaras Locomotive Works.
The Vande Bharat Express, a symbol of the 'Make in India' initiative, promises to revolutionize travel between Uttar Pradesh and the national capital.
The train is expected to start operating normally on December 20 and will connect Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur and New Delhi, providing a fast and modern travel option for pilgrims and professionals alike.
The Vande Bharat Express, a self-driving semi-high-speed train, features superior design, interiors and speed, promising passengers a pleasant and efficient travel experience.
The Vande Bharat Express will depart from Varanasi at 6 am and will reach Prayagraj, Kanpur Central and ultimately New Delhi, improving connectivity and promoting cultural, industrial and economic development in the region.
The return journey starts at 3:00 PM from New Delhi and ends in Varanasi at 11:05 PM.
At the same time, the inauguration of the 402 km stretch of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor from New Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to New Bhaupur Junction underlines the government's commitment to strengthening the logistics sector.
Built at a cost of Rs 10,903 crore, this corridor connects coal fields in Jharkhand and West Bengal with power plants in northern India.
Freight trains on this corridor travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h and have significantly reduced logistics costs and time, benefiting industries such as coal, iron and steel.
The completion of this segment will not only ease pressure on the Delhi-Howrah main line but also pave the way for additional passenger train services and development of a multi-modal logistics park near New Kanpur Junction.
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor is a testament to the government's vision of modernizing infrastructure and promoting economic growth.
Indian Railways, often regarded as the engine of India's progress, continues to play a crucial role in the country's economic development under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)