Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off the country’s fourth Vande Bharat Express train from Una railway station in Himachal Pradesh. The new train will run between Amb Andaura in Himachal Pradesh and New Delhi six days a week.
Before flagging it off, Modi inspected the train coaches of the Vande Bharat Express and took stock of the onboard facilities. He also inspected the control centre of the locomotive engine of Vande Bharat Express and Una railway station with his entourage of ministers.
The new Vande Bharat train is an advanced version compared to the earlier ones, being much lighter and capable of reaching higher speed in shorter duration, officials said.
The train accelerates to 100 km per hour in just 52 seconds, reducing the travel time from Una to New Delhi by two hours. The introduction of the train will help boost tourism in the region and provide a comfortable and faster mode of travel.
नई रफ्तार से आगे बढ़ रहा है नया भारत।
PM @narendramodi Ji flagged off the 4th #VandeBharat train from Una, Himachal Pradesh to New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/WeyogfSHt8
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 13, 2022
Today’s schedule for Narendra Modi includes addressing two public meetings in Una and Chamba districts after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of various projects in the two districts of the poll-bound state.
Modi will dedicate IIIT Una to the nation, the foundation stone for which was laid by him in 2017. Currently, more than 530 students are pursuing studies in this institute.
In Chamba district, he will lay the foundation stones of two hydropower projects and launch the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III in Himachal Pradesh. He will also address two public meetings in Una and Chamba.
“You would be glad to know that the Vande Bharat Express would be flagged off. IIIT, Una will also be dedicated to the nation. The foundation stone of a Bulk Drug Park will be laid. These works will give wings to people’s aspirations.” PM tweeted.
The Bulk Drug Park in Una for which he will lay the foundation stone will be built at a cost of over Rs 1900 crore. The park, expected to attract investment of around Rs 10,000 crore and provide employment to more than 20,000 people, will help reduce dependence on API imports.
After that, at a public function in Chamba, Modi will lay the foundation stone of the 48 MW Chanju-III hydro-electric project and the 30 MW Deothal Chanju hydro-electric project which will generate over 270 million units of electricity annually. Himachal Pradesh is expected to get annual revenue of around Rs 110 crore from these projects.
The prime minister will also launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III in the state for upgrading of around 3125 km of roads. More than Rs 420 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre under this phase for the upgrade of 440 km of roads in 15 border and far-flung blocks of the state.
This is the prime minister’s ninth visit to Himachal Pradesh in the last five years.
Himachal Pradesh is going to polls later this year.
With additional inputs from PTI.
