PM Narendra Modi flags off Dehradun-Delhi Vande Bharat Express

New Delhi May 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off the inaugural run of Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi today via video conferencing. This is the first Vande Bharat introduced in Uttarakhand. It will herald a new era of comfortable travel experience, especially for the tourists travelling to the state. The train has been indigenously built and is equipped with advanced safety features including the Kavach technology.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said, India is being watched with great hope by the world today. He said, India has remarkably progressed in strengthening the economy, battling poverty and combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister said, people of the world want to come to India to see India, to understand the essence of India and in such a situation there are excellent opportunities for states like Uttarakhand.

He said, Vande Bharat train is also going to help Uttarakhand in taking full advantage of this opportunity. Mr Modi said, work on the Char Dham Grand Project with a cost of 12 thousand crore rupees is going on at a fast pace. He said, with the completion of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, the journey between Dehradun-Delhi will become easier. The Prime Minister said, Devbhoomi Uttarakhand will become the center of attraction for the spiritual consciousness of the whole world in the coming days and we have to shape it’s development as per future demands.

He said, since 2014, Government has transformed the Indian railways. Mr Modi said, now the dream of high-speed trains a reality. He said, six thousand kilometres railway lines are electrified every year compared to 600 kilometres before 2014. The Prime Minister said, India is unstoppable now. He said, it is and will continue to advance at a speed parallel to that of Vande Bharat. On the occasion, the Prime Minster also dedicated the newly electrified rail line sections in Uttarakhand. With this, the state now have its entire rail route 100 percent electrified.