Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi. The newly inaugurated trains will operate on the Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru routes.
Addressing a rally, PM Modi said the new trains would “enhance connectivity and provide greater comfort” to passengers. With this launch, the total number of operational Vande Bharat trains across India has crossed 160. He described Vande Bharat as “a train made by Indians, for Indians, and of Indians,” symbolising national pride.
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were present at the event. PM Modi noted that infrastructure is vital to economic growth and that India is progressing rapidly toward development.
The Banaras–Khajuraho route will cut travel time by nearly three hours, connecting spiritual and cultural hubs like Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Khajuraho. The Lucknow–Saharanpur train will shorten journeys by about an hour, benefiting commuters from central and western Uttar Pradesh. The Firozpur–Delhi service will become the fastest on its route, while the Ernakulam–Bengaluru train will link major IT and commercial hubs across southern India, saving over two hours of travel time.
