Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains during his visit to Varanasi, marking another significant milestone in India’s drive toward modernising its rail network and enhancing intercity connectivity. The new trains will operate on the Varanasi–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru routes, linking key cultural, commercial, and pilgrimage centres across the country.
The flagging-off ceremony took place at Banaras railway station, where one of the trains was inaugurated in person, while the other three were launched virtually. The event drew a large crowd of local residents, railway officials, and public representatives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi called the launch a “festival of development”, aligning it with the spirit of Dev Deepawali, which was being celebrated across Varanasi. He highlighted how infrastructure development, particularly improved transport connectivity, directly accelerates regional economic growth and enhances citizens’ quality of life.
“I saw the magnificent Dev Deepawali being held here, and today, I congratulate everyone on this festival of development,” he said. “The countries that have achieved strong economic progress have all prioritised infrastructure. Once a city receives better connectivity, its growth begins on its own.”
Modi underlined that India’s new rail infrastructure is not limited to physical structures like bridges or highways but extends to a holistic transformation in travel experience, comfort, and efficiency. He described the Vande Bharat Express as a symbol of self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and a representation of the nation’s technological and engineering progress.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the spiritual, cultural, and economic value of India’s pilgrimage sites and how the new trains will strengthen these connections. “Our pilgrimage sites are centres of faith, energy, and economic vitality. These new Vande Bharat routes will not only connect heritage cities but also accelerate tourism, trade, and employment opportunities,” he said.
He cited examples from Uttar Pradesh, noting that improved transport facilities have led to an unprecedented rise in pilgrim tourism. “In the last 11 years, the developmental works in Uttar Pradesh have strengthened the state’s economy. Last year, 11 crore devotees visited Baba Vishwanath, and over 6 crore people had darshan of Ram Lalla — their visits alone contributed thousands of crores to the local economy,” he remarked.
The Varanasi–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express, one of the newly launched trains, will connect Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Chitrakoot, providing faster access between some of India’s most significant spiritual and cultural centres. Similarly, the other routes will enhance regional trade and reduce travel times between major cities such as Lucknow and Saharanpur, Firozpur and Delhi, and Ernakulam and Bengaluru.
With the launch of these four new trains, India now operates over 160 Vande Bharat Express services across various corridors, marking an aggressive expansion of semi-high-speed rail connectivity under the Modi government’s infrastructure push.
The Prime Minister hailed Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains as symbols of a new era in Indian Railways, reflecting the country’s aspiration to combine speed, comfort, and national pride in public transport. He concluded by reaffirming that such initiatives will continue to drive India’s vision of becoming a global leader in sustainable and modern infrastructure development.
