Prime Minister Modi to flag off Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express in Assam today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Assam’s first Vande Bharat Express in Guwahati today at 12 noon via video conferencing. The train will connect Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri.

On regular days, the train will start from Guwahati at 4:30 PM and will reach New Jalpaiguri at 10 PM. It will operate on all days except Tuesday.

Akashvani correspondent reports that it will save about an hour of journey time as compared to the current fastest train connecting both the places. The new service will cover the distance of 411 kilometres.

The Vande Bharat Express will cover the journey between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri in five hours and 30 minutes, while the current fastest train takes six hours 30 mins to cover the same.

It will have stoppages at Kamakhya, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, New Alipurduar and New Coochbehar.

The initiative is expected to boost tourism in the region by providing travel with speed and comfort to the people.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate 182 Route kilometres of newly electrified sections.

This will help provide pollution-free transportation with trains running at higher speed and reduced running time of trains.

It will also open the doors for trains running on electric traction to enter Meghalaya.

PM Modi will also inaugurate a newly constructed Diesel Electric Multiple Unit and Mainline Electric Multiple Unit shed at Lumding in Assam.