A new chapter in rail connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar was scripted on Saturday as over 3,925 passengers travelled on the first commercial run of the Vande Bharat Express.
The incident occurred near the ticket counter on the first platform of the railway station when the Minister arrived to board the Vande Bharat Express, after attending the International Ayurveda Research Center (IARC) in Kannur's Kalliad
The extended Vande Bharat Express will substantially reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, providing passengers with faster, more reliable connectivity, modern onboard amenities, and enhanced comfort.
The newly introduced Howrah–Kamakhya Junction and Kamakhya Junction–Howrah Sleeper Vande Bharat Express connect two of India’s most revered and culturally significant destinations.
The Minister informed that the annual average railway investment for Odisha has increased from Rs 838 crore during 2009–14 to Rs 10,928 crore in 2026–27, marking an unprecedented 13 fold rise.
Northern Railway on Thursday announced further extension of cancellations and curtailed operations of several trains till June, offering partial relief with the resumption of Vande Bharat services in April.
The semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express trains have revolutionised train travel in India, offering premium airline-like travel at an economical cost. The sleeper version of these trains has been introduced by the government to meet the growing transportation needs of a modern India.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Malda in North Bengal on January 17, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has highlighted significant expansion of railway infrastructure in the state since 2014, while Darjeeling MP and BJP national spokesperson Raju Bista announced the launch of several new train services from north Bengal, including India’s first Vande Bharat Express (Sleeper) on the Kolkata-Guwahati route.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Uchit Singhal, said these passengers did not possess valid tickets or travel authority.
The Prime Minister is on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency.
