PM Modi Flags Off Amritsar–Katra Vande Bharat Express

12 Aug 2025 CW Team

Boost to Tourism & Trade

Highlighting the significance of the launch, the Prime Minister said, “The trains will boost tourism, commerce and connectivity.” The Vande Bharat Express aims to cut travel time, improve passenger comfort, and strengthen economic links between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.

Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu noted that the service will facilitate spiritual travel for devotees visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and also stimulate tourism and trade. Passengers boarding from Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Beas will also benefit from the improved connectivity. The train will operate six days a week, excluding Tuesdays.

Schedule & Features

The train departs Katra at 6:40 am and reaches Amritsar by 12:20 pm, with stops at Jammu Tawi, Pathankot Cantt, Jalandhar City, and Beas. The return service leaves Amritsar at 4:25 pm and reaches Katra at 10:00 pm, enabling same-day round trips.

Equipped with modern amenities such as automatic doors, onboard Wi-Fi, infotainment screens, reclining seats, bio-vacuum toilets, GPS tracking, and the Kavach safety system, the Vande Bharat offers both comfort and safety. With this launch, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir now each have five Vande Bharat trains, totalling 10 services.

Local Impact

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, stating that the train will ease travel for pilgrims and contribute to the region’s economic growth.

On the freight front, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Javed Ahmed Tenga said the timely arrival of the first freight train in Anantnag will support the swift delivery of horticulture produce from Kashmir.

News source: The New Indian Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, virtually from Bengaluru, flagged off the Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express, a day after the first freight train from Punjab arrived in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The new high-speed passenger service is expected to enhance regional connectivity, promote tourism, and provide a world-class travel experience.Boost to Tourism & TradeHighlighting the significance of the launch, the Prime Minister said, “The trains will boost tourism, commerce and connectivity.” The Vande Bharat Express aims to cut travel time, improve passenger comfort, and strengthen economic links between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu noted that the service will facilitate spiritual travel for devotees visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and also stimulate tourism and trade. Passengers boarding from Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Beas will also benefit from the improved connectivity. The train will operate six days a week, excluding Tuesdays.Schedule & FeaturesThe train departs Katra at 6:40 am and reaches Amritsar by 12:20 pm, with stops at Jammu Tawi, Pathankot Cantt, Jalandhar City, and Beas. The return service leaves Amritsar at 4:25 pm and reaches Katra at 10:00 pm, enabling same-day round trips.Equipped with modern amenities such as automatic doors, onboard Wi-Fi, infotainment screens, reclining seats, bio-vacuum toilets, GPS tracking, and the Kavach safety system, the Vande Bharat offers both comfort and safety. With this launch, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir now each have five Vande Bharat trains, totalling 10 services.Local ImpactLieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, stating that the train will ease travel for pilgrims and contribute to the region’s economic growth.On the freight front, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Javed Ahmed Tenga said the timely arrival of the first freight train in Anantnag will support the swift delivery of horticulture produce from Kashmir.News source: The New Indian Express

Real Estate

02 Apr 2026

Indian real estate attracts USD 1.4 bn institutional investments in Q1 2026: Vestian

Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector touched USD 1.4 billion in Q1 2026, marking the highest first-quarter inflow since 2022, according to Vestian. While investments fell 62 per cent quarter-on-quarter due to an exceptionally high base in the previous quarter, they rose 74 per cent compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustained investor confidence despite rising geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges.Commercial real estate remained the key driver of investment activity during the quarter, accounting for 80 per cent of total inflows, sharply higher than 38 p..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Apr 2026

VECV crosses 1 lakh annual vehicle sales milestone in FY26

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, has surpassed the 1 lakh annual sales mark in FY 2025–26, recording its highest-ever commercial vehicle sales performance. The company said it sold more than 100,000 vehicles during the year, marking a major milestone aligned with the original vision of the Volvo–Eicher joint venture.The strong performance was supported by demand across categories. Light and Medium Duty (LMD) trucks contributed 47,789 units, accounting for 46.1 per cent of total sales. Heavy Duty (HD) trucks recorded 26,867 units (25.9 pe..

Technology

02 Apr 2026

Rodic Digital & Advisory partners SatSure to deploy EO intelligence in public sector

Rodic Digital & Advisory (RDA), the strategic advisory and digital transformation arm of Rodic Consultants, has signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SatSure to jointly pursue opportunities in India’s public sector. The collaboration aims to integrate high-resolution Earth Observation (EO) data and geospatial AI into government workflows to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and operational decision-making across key sectors.The partnership combines SatSure’s Earth intelligence capabilities with RDA’s expertise in government digital transformation and ..