New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Bhopal-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express train at Rani Kamalapati station during his visit to Bhopal today. He will also take part in the Combined Commanders' Conference, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.


The Combined Commanders' Conference will discuss various topics in view of the joint preparedness of the armed forces and also review the progress of the defense ecosystem towards the preparedness of the armed forces and achieving 'self-reliance'.


As per the itinerary, PM Modi will reach Raja Bhoj Airport around 9.25 am. After that he will reach Kushabhau Thakre auditorium by helicopter.


Then he will attend the Joint Commanders Conference at Kushabhau Thakre Auditorium at 10 am.


From there, he will leave for Rani Kamlapati Railway Station at 3pm. There he will flag off the Vande Bharat train at 3:15 pm and interact with the people. After that, PM Modi will leave from Bhopal airport and return to Delhi.


Heads of three armed forces, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also take part in the Combined Commanders' Conference. The conference will be held from March 30 to April 1, Chouhan said. The defence minister will arrive in the state on March 30 to take part in the conference, he added.


Notably, the Vande Bharat Express train between Bhopal and the national capital will cover a distance of 708 km in 7.45 hours, CM Chouhan he said.


"PM Modi will be visiting Madhya Pradesh. During his visit to Bhopal on April 1, he will give a big gift to the people of the state in the form of Vande Bharat Express, which he will flag off from the Rani Kamalapati station for New Delhi," the CM said.


Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is currently ruling, will be held by the end of this year.