New Dehli: Jharkhand is poised to get its third Vande Bharat Express train, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to virtually flag off the inaugural journey on Tuesday. The new train, connecting Ranchi to Varanasi, will commence its regular run on March 18.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Hatia-Asansol-Hatia Express and doubling of the Ranchi-Bondamunda railway line and stalls under the One Station One Product scheme at Ranchi, Hatia, Govindpur Road, Itki, Muri, Piska, Silli, Tangarbasuli, Tatisilwai stations, Barkakana, Ranchi Road and Pradhan Khanta stations under different railway divisions in Jharkhand, the official said, as per news agency PTI.
Furthermore, the PM will inaugurate the Gatishakti Cargo Terminal at HURL Sindri in Dhanbad district and North Urimari under Barka-Sayal area of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in Ramgarh district.
The Ranchi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express train is scheduled to be flagged off at 9 am, according to Nishant Kumar, the senior divisional commercial manager of Ranchi, as reported by PTI. This marks the third Vande Bharat Express introduced in the state, following the Ranchi-Patna and Ranchi-Howrah routes inaugurated on June 27, 2023, and September 24 of the previous year, respectively.
Operating six days a week, except Thursdays, the train will cover the 571 km distance between Ranchi and Varanasi in seven hours and fifty minutes, providing passengers with a faster and more efficient travel option between the two cities.
The fare for the Ranchi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express has been set at Rs 2,325 for the Executive AC Chair Car and Rs 1,160 for the AC Chair Car without a meal option. During its regular operations, the train will depart from Ranchi at 5:10 am and arrive at Varanasi at 1:00 pm. On the return journey, it will leave Varanasi at 4:05 pm and reach Ranchi at 11:55 pm. The train will make stops at Muri, Bokaro Steel City, Koderma, Gaya, Sasaram, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, a statement said.
PM Modi to inaugurate new Vande Bharat Express on Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru route
PM Modi will virtually flag off the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat Express between Dr MGR Chennai Central and Mysuru on Tuesday, Southern Railway said, as per PTI. Additionally, PM Modi will also inaugurate the extended Vande Bharat Service from Mangaluru Central to Thiruvananthapuram Central, as well as the new Kollam–Tirupati Express, all through video conferencing.
The Chennai–Bengaluru–Mysuru train is the second Vande Bharat Express in this corridor. The first in this route was launched in 2022. The inaugural run of Train No. 20664 Dr. MGR Chennai Central–SMVT Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to depart from Chennai at 09:15 hours on Tuesday, making its way to Bengaluru with stops in Katpadi and Krishnarajapuram, before arriving at Bengaluru at 14:20 hours, reported PTI.
The regular service for the Chennai–Bengaluru–Mysuru Vande Bharat Express will commence on March 14, operating on all days of the week except Wednesdays. Initially, from March 14 to April 4, the train will run solely between Chennai and Bengaluru, making stops in Katpadi and Krishnarajapuram.
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The complete service between Chennai and Mysuru will begin on April 5, as stated by Southern Railway. During this interim period, Train No. 20664 Dr MGR Chennai Central–Mysuru Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to depart from Chennai Central at 17:00 hours and arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 21:25 hours, covering the 358 km distance in four hours and 25 minutes.
In the return direction, Train No 20663 will leave SMVT Bengaluru at 07.50 hrs and reach Dr MGR Chennai Central at 12.25 hrs, taking four hours and 35 minutes. From April 5 onwards, when the full service begins, Train No 20663 Mysuru–Dr MGR Chennai Central Vande Bharat Express (except Wednesdays) will leave Mysuru at 06.00 hrs and reach Chennai at 12.25 hrs, covering a distance of 497 km in six hours and 25 minutes.
The train will stop at Mandya, Bengaluru, Krishnarajapuram, and Katpadi en route. In the return direction, Train No 20664 Dr MGR Chennai Central–Mysuru Vande Bharat Express (except Wednesdays) will leave Chennai at 17.00 hrs and reach Mysuru at 23.20 hrs, taking six hours and 20 minutes.