Malda, Jan 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the country and rsquo;s first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town station in north
Bengal.
He also virtually flagged off the return Guwahati and ndash;Howrah Vande Bharat sleeper train from here.
Modi interacted with children and school students inside the train.
Developed to meet the growing transportation needs of modern India, the fully AC Vande Bharat sleeper train would offer passengers an and ldquo;airline-like travel experience at economical fares, and rdquo; a statement issued by the PMO stated.
The train will make long-distance journeys faster, safer, and more convenient, it said.
and quot;By significantly reducing travel time by around 2.5 hours on the Howrah and ndash; Guwahati route, the train will also give a major boost to religious travel and tourism, and rdquo; the statement added.
Later at a public programme in Malda, the PM is scheduled to dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects, worth Rs 3,250 crore, aimed at strengthening connectivity and accelerating development in Bengal and the North East.
On a two-day visit to eastern India, Modi is scheduled to criss-cross poll-bound West Bengal and Assam, blending high-voltage political messaging with a clutch of infrastructure launches as the countdown to the 2026 assembly elections enters its decisive phase. PTI SMY PNT BDC BDC
