PM flags off 3 Vande Bharat trains from Bengaluru
By Arun Kumar Das
Bengaluru, Aug 10 (BVI) : Three Vande Bharat trains, including one between the education hub Belagavi and capital Bengaluru in Karnataka, were flagged off today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The other two train services launched by the Prime Minister from here today were between Ajni in Nagpur and Pune in Maharashtra and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu and Kashmir and- Amritsar in Punjab.
There was a constant demand for Vande Bharat service from Belagavi to Bangalore and today it was fulfilled, said Bangalore DRM A K Singh.
Singh said this is the 11th Vande Bharat for Karnataka and eighth from Bangalore.
There was a festive atmosphere at Bangalore station as several schoolchildren, NGO volunteers, Scouts and Guides, and rail enthusiasts among others also took the inaugural ride from Bengaluru in the Vande Bharat train.
Harshita, a 10th Class student from Kendriya Vidyalaya, has made a sketch showcasing nationalism. “I am very happy that I am part of this train journey which is being flagged off by PM,” she said in excitement.
Sai, another student who is also part of the student group said, “I enjoy train journey and love to enjoy the sight from a window. Today, it is a great day for all of us here to enjoy the journey.”
Abhaya Kumar, Guard of the train, is a proud man today as he is on duty for the Vande Bharat train, “I am happy as I got the chance to be the Guard of the train,” he said.
VK Pandey, the Train Manager of the Vande Bharat service said, I hope that the 611 km long journey from Bengaluru to Belagavi would be pleasant and enjoyable for passengers as the train is equipped with all modern amenities.”
The Bangalore-Belagavi Vande Bharat service will benefit several districts of Karanataka including Tumakur, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Belagavi.
With launching of these trains, the total Vande Bharat trains introduced so far is 72 now covering 24 States and Union Territories.
Over the next 3 years, 200 more Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are proposed to be introduced. (BVI)
