New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat Express train.
The semi-high-speed train was flagged off from Rani Kamalapati railway station in Bhopal city in the afternoon in the presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangu Bhai Patel and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Modi, while addressing the gathering after flagging off the premium service, said the aim of his government was to transform the railway sector and make travel convenient for citizens.
A huge crowd had assembled on platform number two of the sprawling station to witness the Vande Bharat Express flagging off ceremony, which took place on the adjoining platform number one.
This is the 11th Vande Bharat Express service on the Indian Railway network and will run on all days except Saturday.
It will depart from Rani Kamalapati station at 5:40am and reach Hazrat Nizamuddin station at 1:10pm.
The Delhi-Bhopal leg of the train will start at 2:40 pm, officials said. The train is scheduled to halt at Jhansi, Gwalior, and Agra en route, they added.
Onboard the train, the PM interacted with more than 300 schoolchildren who were selected through a drawing and essay competition on the theme ‘Bharatiya Rail’, officials said.
Modi also spoke to staff onboard the train, the officials said.
PTI