PM Modi flags off 2nd Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express

20 Dec 2023 CW Team

In a significant milestone for India's railway infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the second Vande Bharat Express connecting Varanasi and New Delhi.

The event, held at the newly opened Dedicated Freight Corridor, featured the flagging off of the Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Dohrighat-Mau MEMU train, and a pair of Long Haul goods trains by the Prime Minister. The highlight was the unveiling of the 10,000th locomotive produced by Banaras Locomotive Works.

The Vande Bharat Express, emblematic of the 'Make in India' initiative, is poised to transform travel between Uttar Pradesh and the national capital. Set to commence regular operations on December 20, the train will link Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, and New Delhi, providing a fast and contemporary travel option for both pilgrims and professionals.

As a self-propelled semi-high-speed train, the Vande Bharat Express boasts exceptional design, interiors, and speed, ensuring passengers a comfortable and efficient travel experience. The journey begins at 6:00 AM from Varanasi, with stops at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, and finally New Delhi, enhancing connectivity and contributing to cultural, industrial, and economic development in the region. The return journey starts from New Delhi at 3:00 PM, concluding in Varanasi at 11:05 PM.

Simultaneously, the inauguration of the 402 km-long segment of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor from New Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to New Bhaupur Junction underscores the government's commitment to strengthening the logistics sector. Built at a cost of Rs 109.03 billion, this corridor connects coal fields in Jharkhand and West Bengal to power plants in Northern India.

Operating at speeds of up to 100 km/h, freight trains on this corridor have significantly reduced logistics costs and time, benefiting industries such as coal, iron, and steel. The completion of this segment not only alleviates pressure on the Delhi-Howrah main line but also sets the stage for additional passenger train services and the development of a multimodal logistics park near New Kanpur Junction.

The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor stands as a testament to the government's vision for modernising infrastructure and fostering economic growth. Indian Railways, often considered the engine of India's progress, continues to play a pivotal role in the nation's economic development under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

In a significant milestone for India's railway infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the second Vande Bharat Express connecting Varanasi and New Delhi. The event, held at the newly opened Dedicated Freight Corridor, featured the flagging off of the Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Dohrighat-Mau MEMU train, and a pair of Long Haul goods trains by the Prime Minister. The highlight was the unveiling of the 10,000th locomotive produced by Banaras Locomotive Works. The Vande Bharat Express, emblematic of the 'Make in India' initiative, is poised to transform travel between Uttar Pradesh and the national capital. Set to commence regular operations on December 20, the train will link Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, and New Delhi, providing a fast and contemporary travel option for both pilgrims and professionals. As a self-propelled semi-high-speed train, the Vande Bharat Express boasts exceptional design, interiors, and speed, ensuring passengers a comfortable and efficient travel experience. The journey begins at 6:00 AM from Varanasi, with stops at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, and finally New Delhi, enhancing connectivity and contributing to cultural, industrial, and economic development in the region. The return journey starts from New Delhi at 3:00 PM, concluding in Varanasi at 11:05 PM. Simultaneously, the inauguration of the 402 km-long segment of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor from New Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to New Bhaupur Junction underscores the government's commitment to strengthening the logistics sector. Built at a cost of Rs 109.03 billion, this corridor connects coal fields in Jharkhand and West Bengal to power plants in Northern India. Operating at speeds of up to 100 km/h, freight trains on this corridor have significantly reduced logistics costs and time, benefiting industries such as coal, iron, and steel. The completion of this segment not only alleviates pressure on the Delhi-Howrah main line but also sets the stage for additional passenger train services and the development of a multimodal logistics park near New Kanpur Junction. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor stands as a testament to the government's vision for modernising infrastructure and fostering economic growth. Indian Railways, often considered the engine of India's progress, continues to play a pivotal role in the nation's economic development under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Real Estate

31 Oct 2025

Birla Estates Tops Global GRESB 2025 Rankings

Birla Estates (BEPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aditya Birla Real Estate (formerly Century Textiles and Industries Limited), has been recognised as a Sector Leader in the 2025 GRESB Real Estate Assessment, securing top honours across multiple global and regional categories.Birla Estates’ Achievements in GRESB 2025:Global Sector Leader – ResidentialGlobal Sector Leader – Non-Listed ResidentialRegional Sector Leader – Asia – ResidentialRegional Sector Leader – Non-Listed – Asia – ResidentialThese distinctions reaffirm Birla Estates’ exceptional performance in Environmental, ..

Infrastructure Transport

31 Oct 2025

Progota India Secures RDSO Clearance for Kavach 4.0

Concord Control Systems, one of India’s leading manufacturers of embedded electronic and critical system solutions, announced that its associate company, Progota India, has received Technical Prototype Clearance from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) for Kavach 4.0, the latest version of Indian Railways’ indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.With this clearance, Progota has been formally approved to execute its ongoing trial order from South Central Railway, marking a key milestone in India’s railway modernization journey. The approval also establishes P..

Infrastructure Urban

31 Oct 2025

MPS Interactive Systems Completes Full Acquisition of Liberate Group

MPS Interactive Systems (MPSi), a material subsidiary of MPS, has completed the acquisition of the remaining shareholding in the Liberate Group of Companies—comprising Liberate Learning, App-eLearn, and Liberate eLearning.With this transaction, MPSi now holds 100 per cent ownership of all entities within the Liberate Group, making them its wholly owned subsidiaries. The acquisition was executed in line with the valuation methodology defined in the original transaction documents.Commenting on the development, Rahul Arora, Chairman and CEO of MPS, said, “The corporate learning sector continu..