Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal today, flagged off a Vande Bharat train from the city's the Rani Kamalapati station to national capital Delhi. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present during the event.
"In the history of railways, a Prime Minister has rarely arrived again in such a short time," PM Modi said, adding that Vande Bharat is a symbol of the new developments in India and there's a demand for it in every corner of the country.
The Prime Minister took a dig at the opposition Congress, stating that while they might mock him saying "Modi will pull an April Fool's prank", the Vande Bharat project would be inaugurated today.
"In previous governments, they thought only one family is India's first family and didn't pay any attention to the needs of the middle-class families of India, Indian railways is the biggest example of this. Indian rail is the common man's ride. In the last 9 years, we have been making efforts to make the Indian railway the best in the world," he said, adding CCTVs have been installed in 900 stations. "Vande Bharat has become a super-hit," PM Modi said.
According to the Prime Minister, train travel has become safer, cleaner, and more punctual. He also stated that the newly launched Vande Bharat Express will bring employment opportunities and development. The railway budget for Madhya Pradesh has been increased from ₹ 600 crore to ₹ 13,000 crore, the PM announced.
More about Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat train
Details of the Vande Bharat Express train between Bhopal and Delhi have been revealed. The 11th train will cover a distance of 708 km in approximately seven hours and 45 minutes, with reports indicating that it may run from Rani Kamlapati station in Bhopal to Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi, stopping at Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi and Gwalior stations, as well as Agra. The train will depart from Rani Kamlapati station at 5:55 am and arrive at New Delhi at 1:45 pm, with the return journey departing from New Delhi at 2:45 pm and arriving at Rani Kamlapati station at 10:45 pm. The train is equipped with modern amenities and is expected to provide a faster, more comfortable, and convenient travel experience while boosting tourism and promoting economic development in the region. According to reports, the fare for the train will range from ₹1665 to ₹3185, depending on the class.
