Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express connecting Guwahati to New Jalpaiguri

Vande Bharat Express will help realize ‘transformation through transportation’ goal of PM: CM

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off Assam’s first Vande Bharat Express that will connect Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri, via video conferencing. Along with the semi-high speed train, Modi also dedicated the New Bongaigaon-Dudhnoi-Mendipather and Guwahati-Chaparmukh electrified sections to the nation. He also inaugurated the new DEMU/MEMU (workshop for trains) shed at Lumding.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said, “Three projects related to Northeast connectivity are going on simultaneously. Firstly, Northeast today got its first made-in-India, Vande Bharat. Secondly, electrification work has been completed on railway tracks of around 425 km between Assam and Meghalaya and third, DEMU/MEMU (workshop for trains) shed at Lumding,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the Guwahati -New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat train will strengthen the centuries-old ties between Assam and West Bengal. This will increase ease of travel and provide huge benefits to students and will increase job opportunities arising out of tourism and business. He said that this Vande Bharat will provide connectivity to Maa Kamakhya Temple, Kaziranga, Manas National Park, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Furthermore, the Prime Minister pointed out that it will enhance travel and tourism in Shillong, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya and Tawang and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh.

Throwing light on the 9 years of the NDA government in power, the Prime Minister remarked that the nation has witnessed numerous accomplishments and unprecedented development towards a new India in these years. He highlighted the newly-inaugurated magnificent Parliament House of independent India and said that it will connect the thousand-year-old democratic history of India with its prosperous democracy of the future.

He slammed the previous governments for being involved in corruption and neglecting the development and connectivity of north-eastern states. He said, “Before 2014 decade, records were made in committing scams in different sectors. The poor and the regions, which were lagging behind in development, were harmed the most by these scams. Our government gave priority to the welfare of the poor.”

“To cover up their past failures, some people say that a lot of work was done in the Northeast earlier also. These people made the people of Northeast wait for decades even for basic facilities. The Northeast has borne the brunt of this unforgivable crime,” he said.

He underlined that the government has worked at full strength to achieve these goals. Noting that infrastructure makes people’s lives easier, creates employment opportunities and becomes a basis for development, the Prime Minister mentioned that the infrastructure development pace in India is being discussed all over the globe. This infrastructure, the Prime Minister said, strengthens and empowers the poor, backward, Dalits, Adivasis and other deprived sections of the society. “Infrastructure is for everyone and it does not discriminate,” the Prime Minister said as he underlined that this form of development is the pure form of social justice and secularism.

Modi said that he has given the highest priority to Northeast people’s sensitivities and facilities. This change has been widely felt, he added. He informed that before 2014, the average railways budget for the Northeast was about Rs 2500 crore which has grown to more than Rs 10,000 crore this year, a four-fold increase.

By pressing the remote button, the Prime Minister also dedicated the New Bongaigaon-Dudhnoi-Mendipather and Guwahati-Chaparmukh newly-electrified sections to the nation. He further inaugurated a new DEMU/MEMU (workshop for trains) shed at Lumding here.

The Vande Mataram train is the first of its kind premium semi-high speed aesthetically designed, well-equipped fully Air Conditioner service between Guwahati in Assam and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. The frequency of the train will be five days a week. There will be no service of this train on Tuesday.

The train is equipped with KAVACH, the indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System with optimum reliability. Advanced state-of-the-art suspension system ensures smoothness on move in the train. Green footprint plans have been prioritized by dispensing with power cars and saving about 30 per cent of electricity with the advanced regenerative braking system. This energy-efficient train has a faster turnaround time in comparison to others.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the flagging off of the Vande Bharat Express train by the Prime Minister through the video-conferencing mode at a ceremony held at Guwahati Railway Station.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sarma exuded confidence the Vande Bharat Express train would play a major role in giving shape to the Prime Minister’s goal of “transformation through transportation” for the north-eastern region of the country. Expressing happiness at the Vande Bharat being a train built with indigenously developed technologies, Chief Minister Sarma said the semi high-speed train reflects the self-reliance, or atmanirbharta, the country has been achieving for the past 9 years under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Referring to the Vande Bharat Express as one of the finest trains in its class, the Chief Minister added it would provide its passengers with a world-class travel experience and satisfaction.

Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State for Home Nishit Parmanik, Assam Transport Minister Parimal Shuklabadya, along with a host of other dignitaries were also present. (Agencies)

Also Read: Tripura's bamboo flooring, Mirzapur carpets embellish new Parliament building

Also Watch: