Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched railway projects worth Rs 8,200 crore in Odisha and flagged off the state’s first Vande Bharat Express that will connect Puri to West Bengal’s Howrah. Addressing the function through video-conferencing, Modi said new India is building its own technologies and reaching those to the different corners of the country.
“The Vande Bharat Express will further strengthen the religious, cultural and spiritual connection between Howrah and Puri,” he said. Fifteen Vande Bharat trains are operational in the country at present and those are boosting both connectivity and economy, Modi said. “There was a time when new technologies and facilities used to remain limited to Delhi or the big cities. But now, India has chosen a new path. This new India is making technologies on its own and reaching those to different corners of the country,” he said, referring to the indigenously developed semi-highspeed train.
The prime minister said that as the country celebrates ‘Amrit Kaal’ of its Independence, it’s time to further strengthen its unity. “The more India’s unity is strengthened, the more its collective capacity will increase,” he said. He also lauded the state for continuing India’s developmental streak amid challenges.
“Amidst even most challenging times, India kept its developmental journey intact. The reason behind this has been participation of all states, and India’s spirit of walking ahead collectively,” he said. The Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express will be fastest train on route, covering the 500 km distance in around 6.5 hours. Modi also laid foundation stone for redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations. He dedicated to the nation 100 per cent electrification of the railway network in Odisha. This will reduce the operating and maintenance cost and reduce reliance on imported crude oil, officials said.
He also inaugurated the doubling of Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line, a new broad gauge rail line between Angul and Sukinda, the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga and a new broad-gauge line between Bichhupali and Jhartarbha. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present at the programme in Puri station.
The train, with 16 coaches, will stop at Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Khurda Road.
