Punjab’s Malwa region gets Vande Bharat connectivity as PM flags off four new trains

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi and said these will serve as the foundation of the next-generation railways.The new trains — Ferozepur-Delhi, Varanasi-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur and Ernakulam-Bengaluru — connect key heritage, religious and economic hubs and have been built at Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory. The Ferozepur-Delhi train marks Punjab’s first Vande Bharat for the Malwa region.

The PM flagged off the trains virtually from Varanasi during a launch event held at the Banaras railway station, where he was joined by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

In Ferozepur, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu led the flag-off ceremony for the Ferozepur-Delhi service. He was accompanied by Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma, former minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and Rakesh Rathore. These leaders participated in the inaugural journey. Haryana minister Anil Vij welcomed the train at the Ambala Cantt station, greeting passengers with roses as it made its first run.

Addressing the gathering in Varanasi, the PM said, “Infrastructure has played an important role in the development of most nations. The development of a city begins on its own as soon as it gets better connectivity.”

He added, “Trains like Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat and Amrit Bharat are laying the foundation for the next-generation of the Indian Railways.”

Calling the Vande Bharat “a train made by Indians, for Indians, and of Indians,” Modi said foreign visitors were often “astonished” to witness India’s rapid progress in rail infrastructure.

“India has embarked on a mission to enhance its resources for a developed India, and these trains are poised to become milestones in that journey,” the PM said.

He highlighted that the new trains would connect several pilgrimage hubs, including Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Haridwar, Chitrakoot and Kurukshetra, marking a convergence of India’s culture, faith and development journey.

“These holy sites are now being connected through the Vande Bharat network. It’s a step towards transforming heritage cities into symbols of national progress,” he said.

The new services include a key route connecting Varanasi to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Khajuraho, which is set to reduce travel time by approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes and promote religious and cultural tourism by linking Prayagraj and Chitrakoot.

The Railway Ministry said the new Vande Bharat trains will significantly cut travel time by 2 hours 40 minutes on the Varanasi-Khajuraho route, nearly an hour on Lucknow-Saharanpur, over two hours on Ernakulam-Bengaluru, and make the Ferozepur-Delhi service the fastest at 6 hours 40 minutes.“These trains will enhance regional mobility, promote tourism and support economic activity,” the ministry said, noting that India now had over 160 operational Vande Bharat trains.

The four routes also hold political significance for the BJP. The Ferozepur-Delhi train marks Punjab’s first Vande Bharat for the Malwa region, a contested political turf.

Bittu called it “a boost to trade and connectivity for the Malwa region.”

The Varanasi-Khajuraho route connects Modi’s constituency with Bundelkhand, while the Lucknow-Saharanpur train links central and western Uttar Pradesh, improving access to Haridwar. In the South, the Ernakulam-Bengaluru service connects major IT and trade hubs across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Union ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurian attended the event virtually.

PM Modi also underlined the economic impact of religious tourism noting that last year, 11 crore devotees visited Varanasi, and over six crore visited the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. “These pilgrims have contributed thousands of crores to Uttar Pradesh’s economy,” he said, adding that “hundreds of youth in Varanasi are launching new ventures, from transport services to Banarasi saree businesses”. The PM mentioned ongoing projects such as the city’s ropeway, new stadiums at Ganjari and Sigra, and improved healthcare facilities, including the Mahamana Cancer Hospital and Shankar Netralaya.

He added that due to Ayushman Bharat and Jan Aushadhi Kendras in these hospitals, lakhs of poor patients were saving crores of rupees. "This has not only alleviated public anxiety but has also led to Varanasi being recognised as the health capital of the entire region," he said. The PM also said the vision of a “developed India” begins with a “developed Varanasi”, pointing to new hospitals, roads, gas networks and Internet connectivity in the city. “We want every visitor to experience a unique energy and joy in the sacred city of Baba Vishwanath,” he added.

Modi also interacted with students who took part in a competition during the event, praising their poems and paintings on Viksit Bharat and Viksit Kashi. He suggested hosting a children’s literary meet to encourage young talent.