Varanasi, Nov 7 (NationPress) On the brink of inaugurating four new Vande Bharat Express trains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Varanasi on Friday, receiving a heartfelt welcome from the public. Modi expressed his gratitude through a social media post, as noted by an official.

“After attending events in Bihar today, the grand reception from my family here in Kashi left me truly moved,” PM Modi shared on X.

Elaborating on his plans for the following day, he remarked, “On November 8, from the sacred city of Baba Vishwanath, I will be honored to flag off four new Vande Bharat Express trains along the Banaras-Khajuraho route at about 8:15 AM. This initiative will significantly enhance travel convenience and security across various regions, while also propelling tourism and trade.”

This launch stands as a pivotal move towards improving the nation’s modern rail infrastructure, ensuring better connectivity for Varanasi.

The Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat will establish a direct link, reducing travel time by approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to current special trains.

Connecting some of India’s most esteemed religious and cultural landmarks, including Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho, this service aims to enhance both religious and cultural tourism, offering pilgrims and travelers a swift, modern, and comfortable journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho, as stated by officials.

The flag-off signifies another stride in realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of providing citizens with faster, easier, and more comfortable travel through top-tier railway services.

The other newly launched Vande Bharat Express trains will serve the routes from Lucknow to Saharanpur, Firozpur to Delhi, and Ernakulam to Bengaluru.

These trains are set to drastically cut travel times between major locations, thereby boosting regional mobility, encouraging tourism, and facilitating economic activities across the country.

The Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat will cover the distance in roughly 7 hours and 45 minutes, saving nearly an hour of travel time. It will benefit passengers from Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and Saharanpur, while also enhancing access to the holy city of Haridwar through Roorkee.

This service will play a crucial role in improving connectivity and fostering regional development across central and western Uttar Pradesh, as per the official statement.

Meanwhile, the Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat will be the speediest on its route, completing the journey in just 6 hours and 40 minutes, bolstering connections between the national capital and significant cities in Punjab, including Firozpur, Bathinda, and Patiala.