HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning flagged off the Vande Bharat Express, which will run between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam, terming it a “Makar Sankranti gift” to the Telugu states of Telangana and Maharashtra.
Remotely flagging off the train from Platform 10 of the Secunderabad Railway
Station, Modi said, “Vande Bharat Express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam is a gift for the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. This train will provide faster
connectivity for the people of Secunderabad, Warangal, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Vande Bharat Express is proof of fast developing India and a true example of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ (self-sufficient India).”
The Secunderabad Railway Station wore a festive look on the day, with railway staff, students and guests eagerly taking part in the inaugural run.
At each stop, the train was welcomed with balloons and flowers, while there was a band hired at one station too.
People flocked to catch a glimpse of the train at their local stations, taking selfies with the train in the background.
Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Union culture minister G.
Kishan Reddy, Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Telangana ministers Mahmood Ali, T. Srinivas Yadav and SCR general manager Arun Kumar Jain participated in the inauguration programme at the Secunderabad Railway Station.
On the occasion, Modi said that Telangana witnessed major rail developments in the past eight years, with a budget of `3,048 crore allocated for the state in 2022-23, almost 12 times the 2014-15 budget of `258 crore.
He said that the Centre strengthened railway infrastructure in Andhra
Pradesh as well, paving the way for business and improving connectivity for
the common man.
“Vande Bharat Express is providing enhanced connectivity to the common man.
so far, over 40 lakh passengers have travelled in this train,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said, “Today, we are visualising most modern technology in Indian Railways. In future, people are going to witness the most modern train services. Local-for-vocal is visible in Indian Railways too in the form of Vande Bharat Express.”
G. Kishan Reddy appreciated the efforts of Indian Railways for bringing the
Vande Bharat Express, a “brainchild of Indian engineers”, successfully onto
the tracks.
Thanking the Prime Minister, he said, “In a short span of time, Secunderabad station has got a makeover with world class facilities at a cost of around Rs. 800 crore.”
“The passengers who travelled (in the Vande Bharat Express) had an experience more comfortable than aircraft. Such a luxury of travel is at the reach of common man,” Kishan said.
