Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat train on Wednesday via video conferencing. The inaugural train will run between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations.
PM Modi highlighted how the Vande Bharat Express enriches the spirit of ‘India First, Always First’. He added, “The Vande Bharat Express will immensely benefit the tourism industry of Rajasthan.”
The semi-high-speed train runs between Rajasthan's Ajmer and Delhi Cantt. The train will have three stops - Jaipur, Alwar and Gurugram.
The new Vande Bharat train will cover the distance between Delhi Cantt and Ajmer in 5.15 hours. It will take about 60 minutes less than what the present fastest train takes on the same route.
Currently, the fastest train on the same route, Shatabdi Express, takes 6.15 hours from Delhi Cantt to Ajmer. However, this train has seven stops between Delhi and Ajmer.
Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express will be the world's first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory, the Prime Minister's Office said.
Vande Bharat train will improve the connectivity of major tourist destinations like Pushkar and Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Enhanced connectivity will also provide a boost to socio-economic development in the region.
Last week, PM Modi launched the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express at MGR Chennai Central Railway Station in Chennai. This is the second semi-high-speed train in Tamil Nadu after the Chennai-Mysore Express.
PM Modi flagged off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat on April 8. The train will reduce the travel time between the two cities by almost three and a half hours and will be particularly beneficial for pilgrims.