Tourism, trade expected to get a boost with introduction of Vande Bharat train services from UP

The new Vande Bharat service between Varanasi and Madhya Pradesh's Khajuraho, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has freed travellers from the hassle of changing trains to visit the two sites -- both popular destinations for international tourists.

Besides, the Banaras-Khajuraho one, Prime Minister Modi flagged off three other Vande Bharat Express trains that will operate on the Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi and Ernakulam-Bengaluru routes.

Banaras Railway Station Superintendent, Lavlesh Rai, said until now, there was no direct train from Varanasi to Khajuraho.

Tourists had to go to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction -- earlier known as Mughalsarai -- around 20 kilometres from Varanasi, or to Manikpur to get a train to Khajuraho, he said.

With the inauguration of this semi-high-speed Vande Bharat service, tourists can travel directly to Khajuraho in just six hours, saving time and avoiding much inconvenience, Rai added.

According to an official statement, the Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat service will establish direct connectivity on this route and save about 2 hours and 40 minutes, compared to the special trains currently in operation.

The service connects India's most revered religious and cultural destinations, including Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho.

This link will not only strengthen religious and cultural tourism, but also provide pilgrims and tourists with a fast, modern, and comfortable journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho, the statement added.

Varanasi Mayor Ashok Tiwari, who attended the flagging-off event, said that Prime Minister Modi has developed Varanasi into a tourist destination.

"Today, tourists from across the country are visiting Kashi. The prime minister is making an effort to connect Varanasi with all tourist destinations in the country and provide convenience to travellers, he said. "The people of Kashi are very fortunate to have Modi as their MP and prime minister".

Anish, a local, said Varanasi has benefited a lot, gaining recognition as a tourist destination, with PM Narendra Modi as its MP.

"Vande Bharat is the train of a new India. Its operation will further boost tourism and trade," he said and added that he would soon visit Khajuraho on the train.

People were also elated by the Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express train.

Lucknow-based businessman Vishal Mehrotra said the Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat will help in the faster movement of people between the two cities.

"Generally, people visiting Lucknow from Saharanpur opt for the Delhi route. However, the introduction of the Vande Bharat between these two cities will certainly cut down on travel time, benefitting businessmen and traders," he said.

Advocate Ankur Saxena, who hails from Shahjahanpur and practices in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, said, "The operation of the Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat will help people like me, as it will give us another option to go to Lucknow, which will be relatively faster. It will also speed the movement of people from Bareilly to Lucknow and vice versa." He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the state's Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, who hails from Shahjahanpur.

The Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat will cover the journey in approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes, saving nearly one hour of travel time, an official statement said.

It will greatly benefit passengers from Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and Saharanpur, while also improving access to Haridwar via Roorkee.