Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said the government plans to connect major cities, which are less than 100 kilometres apart, with short distance Vande Metro trains which will be rolled out by December this year.

“Vande Metro is being built with the concept that trains can run at a very high frequency, i.e., four or five times a day in cities with a distance of fewer than 100 kilometres, which is very comfortable and affordable. The train will be ready by December,” Vaishnaw told new agency ANI.

The metro network will reduce the congestion in local trains. The project will also enable students and job seekers to reduce their travel time., the minister added.

According to Vaishnaw, the Vande Metro project was initiated after seeing the positive response to the Vande Bharat trains. The project is modelled on the lines of Europe’s regional trains and will provide a world-class experience to travellers. The Vande Metro trains are expected to include eight coaches.

“The Prime Minister has given the target this year. After the success of Vande Bharat train, he asked us to develop a new world-class regional train, which will be Vande Metro,” Vaishnaw said.

Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory and Lucknow’s Research Design and Standard Organisation have received orders to roll out the metro as soon as possible.

The Railways Minister also revealed details about the High-Speed Test Track which has been constructed for the first time in order to speed up the manufacturing of high-speed trains. A new BG Dedicated Test Track is being developed between Gudha-Thathana Mithri in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Division.