On April 12, via video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express, marking a significant milestone in the country’s rail transportation system.
The inaugural Vande Bharat Express in Rajasthan will ply between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway station, providing improved connectivity to major tourist destinations in the state, including Pushkar and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
In his address during the flagging-off ceremony, PM Modi highlighted that the Vande Bharat Express is the first semi-high-speed train made in India, known for its compactness and efficiency.
It is equipped with advanced safety systems, making it a state-of-the-art passenger train that offers a faster, more comfortable, and convenient travel experience for passengers.
The regular service of the Vande Bharat Express in Rajasthan will commence from April 13, and it will be the 15th Vande Bharat Express train to be introduced in the country.
The train will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt, with stops at Jaipur, Alwar, and Gurgaon.
World’s first semi-high speed passenger train with high-rise pantograph.
Thank You PM @narendramodi Ji, for flagging off Ajmer- Delhi Vande Bharat Express. pic.twitter.com/KpjqWx1xd7
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) April 12, 2023
The schedule for the newest Vande Bharat Express indicates that it will cover the distance between Delhi Cantonment and Ajmer in 5 hours and 15 minutes, which is faster than the Shatabdi Express, taking around 6 hours and 15 minutes for the same route.
One of the key features of the new Vande Bharat Express is its faster travel time, with a reduction of about 60 minutes compared to the Shatabdi Express, making it a more time-efficient option for travelers.
The train will run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as per the schedule available on the IRCTC website.
The fare for a Chair car on the Vande Bharat Express is priced at ₹1250, while the Executive Chair car is priced at ₹2270.
The launch of the Vande Bharat Express in Rajasthan is expected to boost socio-economic development in the region by enhancing connectivity to major tourist destinations and facilitating smoother travel for passengers.
This modern, indigenously manufactured, semi-high-speed train set is a testament to India’s technological capabilities and a step towards advancing the country’s rail transportation infrastructure.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time PM Modi has flagged off a Vande Bharat Express.
In April, PM Modi had flagged off the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express in Chennai, followed by the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express from Telangana on the same day.
Earlier in January, PM Modi also flagged off India’s eighth Vande Bharat Express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam, and a week later, another Vande Bharat Express on the Bhopal-New Delhi route.
In conclusion, the launch of Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express is a significant development in India’s rail transportation system.
With its advanced features, faster travel time, and improved connectivity, the Vande Bharat Express is set to offer a more convenient and efficient mode of transportation for passengers, while also contributing to the socio-economic development of the region.