Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off three new Vande Bharat Express trains through video conferencing on Saturday, August 31, to boost rail connectivity in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The newly launched routes are Meerut–Lucknow, Madurai–Bengaluru, and Chennai–Nagercoil, connecting important cities across the north and south of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi remarked, "Today from North to South a new chapter is being added to the Vikas Yatra of the country...From today Vande Bharat train service will start between Meerut – Lucknow, Madurai – Bengaluru and Chennai – Nagercoil..."
"This expansion of trains is taking us to our vision of Viksit Bharat...These three new Vande Bharat trains will connect the important and historic cities...Temple city Madurai will now get connected to the IT city Bengaluru," he said.
Railways Ministry On Vande Bharat
The Southern Railways made special arrangements for the inaugural run of the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat, marking the first such train to connect the scenic town of Nagercoil with Chennai.
The Railway Ministry highlighted that since its inception, the Vande Bharat Express has become a symbol of India's aspiration for comfort and speed in rail travel. First introduced on February 15, 2019, under the 'Make in India' initiative, the Vande Bharat trains represent a significant step towards modernizing the country's rail network.
Currently, over 100 Vande Bharat Express services are operational, extending connectivity to more than 280 districts across India and transforming the travel experience for millions of passengers, as per the ministry, quoted by PTI.
The ministry emphasised the significance of the new trains, noting that they will offer world-class travel experiences with enhanced speed and comfort, benefiting the people of these regions and aligning with India's vision of a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).