PM Modi Flags off Vande Bharat Express train between Puri-Howrah ; launches railway projects worth over 8,200 crore rupees in Odisha;
By B.Maharana
Puri , May 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated several railway projects worth over Rs 8200 crores in Odisha via video conferencing on Thursday at Puri. During the event, Prime Minister flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah.
Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations. The redeveloped stations will have all modern amenities providing world-class experience to the rail passengers.
PM Modi on the occasion dedicated 100 per cent electrification of the rail network in Odisha which will reduce the operating and maintenance costs and reliance on imported crude oil.
Prime Minister also dedicated the doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line; a new broad gauge rail line between Angul-Sukinda; the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga and new broad-gauge line between Bichhupali-Jhartarbha.
These will cater to the increased traffic demands due to rapid industrial development in Odisha’s steel, power and mining sectors and will also help ease the pressure on passenger traffic in these rail sections.
The Vande Bharat Express train will cover 500 kms distance and pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts in Odisha and Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur districts in West Bengal. The train will provide a faster, comfortable and convenient travel experience to the rail users, boost tourism and promote economic development in the region.
The regular run of the Howrah-Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express will commence from May 20. The train will run six days a week. The train will depart Howrah at 6.10 am and reach Puri at 12.35 pm and in the return direction, it will depart Puri at 1.50 pm and arrive at Howrah at 8.30 pm.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said, Vande Bharat Express has become the symbol of modern India and the aspirations of its people. The made in India train with indigenous technology reflects the speed and progress of new India .
Modi said Vande Bharat has been made in India. Prime Minister said the country is developing its own technology and taking the new facilities to the remotest parts of the country. He said infrastructure not only makes the life of people easy but also empowers society.
Modi said, for a faster growth of the country, a balanced development of states is necessary. He said, India continued to maintain its growth rate despite adverse global conditions.
He noted that the mineral-rich state of Odisha will greatly benefit from the electrification of rail lines where pollution emanating from diesel engines will be significantly reduced and help in the industrial development of the state.
The Prime Minister also touched upon another aspect of building infrastructure which is not talked about as much. He said that infrastructure not only makes people’s lives easier but also empowers society.
“The development of the people lags behind when there is a lack of infrastructure. When infrastructure is developed, the rapid development of the people takes place simultaneously”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said that India’s achievements in the field of infrastructure are the subject of studies today.
“When 10 lakh crores are allocated for infrastructure, that creates lakhs of jobs and railway and highway connectivity goes beyond ease of travel and connects farmers with new markets, tourists with new attractions and students with their preferred colleges,” the PM said.