The first Vande Bharat Express train in Rajasthan was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing on Wednesday.
PM Modi said that the Vande Bharat Express embodies the spirit of ‘India First, Always First’ and represents progress, modernity, self-reliance and stability.
He said that the train will boost the tourism sector of Rajasthan, which has many attractions like Pushkar and Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
He also said that he was happy to flag off the sixth Vande Bharat Express in the last two months.
PM Modi criticised the previous governments for neglecting the modernisation of railways and indulging in corruption and politics.
He said that his government has made the railways more transparent, efficient and accountable.
The new Vande Bharat Express will start its regular service from April 13 and will run between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt with stops at Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgaon.
It will take 5 hours and 15 minutes to cover the distance between Delhi Cantt and Ajmer, which is one hour less than the current fastest train on the same route.
The Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express will be the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory.
Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high-speed and self-propelled train set. The train has state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable and more convenient travel experience.