Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched four new Vande Bharat Trains on Saturday. These trains will operate on the Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi, and Ernakulam-Bengaluru routes.
“These trains not only connect heritage cities but also speed up development. In the last 11 years, development projects in Uttar Pradesh have boosted the economy. Last year, 11 crore devotees visited Baba Vishwanath, and over 6 crore devotees had darshan of Ram Lalla; their visits have contributed thousands of crores to the state’s economy,” said PM.
Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Trains
The Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat will provide direct connectivity between the two cultural centers. It will take about 2 hours and 40 minutes, compared to existing special trains. The service will connect major religious and cultural hubs like Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho, improving access to the UNESCO World Heritage Site and boosting pilgrimage and cultural tourism.
Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat
The Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Trains will cover the journey in around 7 hours and 45 minutes, cutting travel time by nearly an hour. Passengers from Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and Saharanpur are expected to benefit, as it improves access to Haridwar via Roorkee. The service aims to make intercity travel in central and western Uttar Pradesh easier and faster.
Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat
On the Firozpur-Delhi route, the Vande Bharat will be the fastest train, completing the distance in just 6 hours and 40 minutes. This new service will improve connectivity between Delhi and major cities in Punjab, including Firozpur, Bathinda, and Patiala. It will also support trade, tourism, and employment in the border area and strengthen integration with national markets.
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