PM flags off Assam’s first Vande Bharat Express, throws open new electric rail tracks in big boost to infra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Assam’s first Vande Bharat Express train and inaugurated new electrified sections of railway tracks in the state through video conferencing today.

The Vande Bharat Express will cover the distance of 411 km between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri in 5 hours 30 minutes, reducing the journey time significantly. This will be the fastest train on this route and will benefit IT professionals, businessmen, students, and tourists.

The train will operate six days a week. There will be no service of this train on Tuesday

The Prime Minister also dedicated New Bongaigaon–Dudhnoi–Mendipather and Guwahati–Chaparmukh newly electrified railway track sections to the nation. Besides, he inaugurated the new DEMU/MEMU (workshop for trains) shed at Lumding.

This is India’s 18th Vande Bharat Express.  These new trains are speeding up travel in the country and the initiative is driven by ‘Make In India’ campaign of Prime Minister Modi that has been taken up by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF).

Vande Bharat Express runs as a self-propelled Semi-High Speed train set. The train set holds an aerodynamic design on both ends, which significantly reduces air drag and gives the train a futuristic look. The train set is equipped with a centralized Coach Monitoring and Control System. It has eight coach Chair Car configurations, stainless steel car body with a seating capacity of 530 passengers with maximum utilization of onboard space.