Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (Information and Publicity), Railway Board was quoted as saying by Economic Times, “We already have 156 Vande Bharat Express services across the country, and with the addition of 8 new services, the total will now be 164. Today, the Prime Minister flagged off the Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express. Besides this, we are introducing Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express, Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express, and one Ernakulam-Coimbatore-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express.”
The newly launched trains will operate on key routes connecting Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi, and Ernakulam-Bengaluru, significantly reducing travel time between major cities while improving regional mobility and boosting tourism and trade.
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At the Varanasi event, Prime Minister Modi described the launch as a part of India’s broader infrastructure transformation. Addressing the gathering, he extended greetings to the people of Varanasi, calling it “the sacred city of Baba Vishwanath,” and lauded the festive spirit witnessed during Diwali.
He noted, “Across the developed nations of the world, a major driver of economic growth has been robust infrastructure. In every country that has achieved significant progress and development, infrastructure advancement has played a pivotal role. India, too, is rapidly striding on this path.”
The Prime Minister said the new trains represent “a festival of development” and congratulated citizens nationwide on the occasion.
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Highlighting the significance of India’s indigenous manufacturing capability, Prime Minister Modi stated, “Trains like Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat are laying the foundation for the next generation of Indian Railways.” He described the Vande Bharat Express as “a train made by Indians, for Indians, and of Indians,” adding that it has become a source of national pride.
He remarked that international visitors are often “astonished upon seeing Vande Bharat,” highlighting its role as a symbol of India’s technological advancement.
Emphasising the cultural and spiritual importance of connectivity, the Prime Minister observed that pilgrimage in India has long served as a “medium of national consciousness.” He cited Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Haridwar, Chitrakoot, and Kurukshetra as examples of sacred centres central to India’s civilisational identity.
“These holy sites are now being connected through the Vande Bharat network; it marks a convergence of India’s culture, faith, and development journey,” he said. “This is a significant step towards transforming heritage cities into symbols of national progress.”
