India’s network of semi-high speed trains got a significant boost as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off 10 new Vande Bharat trains on March 12, thereby extending the network to more than 50 trains over 45 routes across the country. The Indian Railways already operated 41 Vande Bharat Express services, which have been instrumental in connected several states through electrified Broad Gauge (BG) networks, affecting 24 states and 256 districts.
These trains serve various important routes, and with the new additions, six routes now feature two Vande Bharat trains, ensuring enhanced connectivity. Among these are high-demand routes like Delhi-Katra, Delhi-Varanasi, and Mumbai-Ahmedabad. Furthering this project, December of the previous year witnessed the introduction of six more Vande Bharat trains, effectively connecting cities and towns like Katra, New Delhi, Amritsar, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Mangalore, Jalna, Mumbai, and Ayodhya, creating a robust network.
Additionally, the Prime Minister inaugurated extensions for four Vande Bharat trains, diversifying the reach to places like Dwarka, Chandigarh, Prayagraj, and Mangaluru. This expansion has resulted in Delhi becoming a Vande Bharat hub with 10 trains, followed by Mumbai with six, and Chennai with five. Also, new passenger services between Asansol and Hatia & Tirupati and Kollam have been introduced, further enhancing passenger connectivity.
Amidst the backdrop of these expansions, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for railway projects worth ₹85,000 crore, aiming for infrastructural development beyond electoral gains and ensuring a modernized railway system. His personal connection with railways, having begun his life on railway tracks, underscored his commitment to transforming the railways. In a giant leap for railway development, the PM’s dedication to nation-building saw the inauguration and laying of foundations for projects totaling ₹11 lakh crore in just over two months of 2024.
The launch from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati area came after Modi’s visit to the Dedicated Freight Corridor’s Operation Control Centre, emphasizing the importance of railways in national development. Highlighting the strategic decision to discontinue the separate railway budget, he underscored the positive impact of integrating it into the Union Budget for better alignment with the overall development of railways.
The inauguration event also marked the dedication of 50 new Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras at railway stations, providing affordable and quality generic medicines. Cementing the importance of seamless transportation, 51 Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminals were dedicated to the nation, aiming to promote efficient movement of goods between various transportation modes. The commitment to upgrading India’s railway system was brilliantly showcased as new dedicated freight corridor sections were also opened to boost logistics and freight services across the country.