PM flags off Doon-Delhi Vande Bharat Express
DEHRADUN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off the inaugural run of Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi (Anand Vihar) via video conferencing. He also dedicated to the nation newly electrified rail sections and declared that rail network in Uttarakhand has been 100% electrified.
The new Vande Bharat Express will cover the distance between Dehradun to Delhi in 4.5 hours.
Addressing the gathering, the PM congratulated people of Uttarakhand for the inaugural Vande Bharat Express between Dehradun and Delhi and said the train will connect the nation’s capital to the Dev Bhoomi of Uttarakhand.
He said the travel time between the two cities will be further reduced and the onboard facilities will make for a pleasant travel experience.
Speaking on his recent tour to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia, the Prime Minister underlined that the world is looking at India with high hopes. “India has become a ray of hope for the world when it comes to strengthening the economy and fighting poverty,” Modi said.
Modi recalled his visit to Kedarnath and remembered his spontaneous statement -- “This decade is going to be the decade of Uttarakhand.” He praised the development push of the state while keeping the law-and-order situation strong. Modi expressed the hope that Devbhoomi will be the centre of the spiritual consciousness of the world. “We will have to work to realise this potential.” He mentioned that the number of pilgrims for the Char Dham Yatra keeps on breaking old records. He also talked about the devotees coming for the darshan of Baba Kedar, Kumbh/Ardh Kumbh at Haridwar and Kanwar Yatra. He said that not many states have this number of devotees arriving and it is a gift as well as a monumental task. “Double-engine government is working with double power and double speed to make this ‘Bhagirath’ task easy,” he added.
Modi said that the government’s emphasis is on the ‘Navratna’ or 9 gems of development. First Ratna, he said, is ₹1,300 crore rejuvenation work at Kedarnath-Badrinath Dham. Second, ₹2,500 crore Ropeway project at Gaurikund-Kedarnath and Gobind Ghat- Hemkunt Sahib. Third, the renovation of ancient temples of Kumaon under Manas Khand Mandir Mala programme. Fourth, the promotion of Homestay in the entire state where more than 4,000 homestays have been registered in the state. Fifth, the development of 16 ecotourism destinations. Sixth, expansion of health services in Uttarakhand. AIIMS satellite center is coming up in Udham Singh Nagar. Seventh, ₹2000 cr Tehri Lake Development Project. Eighth, the development of Haridwar Rishikesh as the capital of Yoga and adventure tourism and finally, Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line.
He said these Navratnas are being consolidated with a new push to infrastructure development in the state. Work is going on at a rapid pace on ₹12,000 crore Char Dham Mahapariyojana, he informed.
He also mentioned that DelhiDehradun Expressway will make the journey faster and easier.
The PM also talked about the ropeway connectivity in Uttarakhand. “Parvat Mala Project is going to change the state’s fortune in the coming days,” he said. He remarked that the ₹16,000 cr Rishikesh-Karanprayag Rail Project will be completed in 2-3 years.
Modi said with the assistance of the central government, Uttarakhand is emerging as the hub of tourism, adventure tourism, film shooting destination and wedding destination.
He said tourist spots of the state are attracting visitors from all across the globe and Vande Bharat Express will be beneficial to them.