ODISHA MAY 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Odisha’s first Vande Bharat Express virtually on Thursday. This train has 16 coaches, will cover a distance of 500 km between Howrah and Puri and will take around six and a half hours to complete its journey.
Today, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated several railway projects valued at more than Rs 8,000 crores in Odisha.
While launching the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express Train PM Modi said, “Vande Bharat is a symbol of developed India and aspirant Indians. When Vande Bharat travels from one place to another, it reflects India’s speed and development.”
“The Vande Bharat Express will further strengthen the religious, cultural and spiritual connection between Howrah and Puri. Today, there are 15 Vande Bharat Trains running in the country; these are boosting both connectivity as well as the economy of the nation,
Ahead of the launch of Odisha’s first Vande Bharat Express train, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with BJP leader Sambit Patra, visited Jagannath Temple in Puri.
At midnight, Ashwini Vaishanw also visited the Puri Railway Station to assess the construction status.
The train will pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore districts in Odisha and Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur districts in West Bengal. The train will provide a faster, more comfortable and convenient travel experience to the rail users, boost tourism and promote economic development in the region, said PMO.
