Dehradun: In a major boost to the tourism and connectivity of Uttarakhand, the Vande Bharat Express train, which will link Dehradun and Delhi in just four and a half hours, is all set to start its operations from May 25. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on his Twitter handle recently.

The Vande Bharat Express is a symbol of progress and a testament to a vibrant and growing India. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and BJP national president JP Nadda for their support and guidance in making this project a reality. Our government is committed to work with the central government for the welfare and development of Uttarakhand.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

Flagging off ceremony

The Vande Bharat Express will be flagged off by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and CM Dhami at Dehradun railway station on May 25 at 11:00 am. The inaugural ceremony will be attended by several dignitaries and officials of the state and central governments. The train will run daily from May 29 onwards.

Schedule and fare

The Vande Bharat Express will depart from Dehradun at 11:00 am and reach Anand Vihar railway station in Delhi at 3:30 pm. It will either stop at Saharanpur or pass through Tapri Junction, depending on the final decision of the railway authorities. The fare for the train has not been announced yet, but it is expected to be affordable and competitive.

Features and amenities

The Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train in the country and will offer a comfortable and convenient travel option for passengers between the state capital and the national capital. The train will have state-of-the-art features such as automatic doors, bio-vacuum toilets, Wi-Fi, CCTV cameras, GPS-based passenger information system, etc. It will also have power on both ends, so it will not need to change locomotives at any station. The train will have two classes of coaches: Executive Class and Chair Car. The Executive Class will have 56 seats and the Chair Car will have 78 seats. The train will also have a pantry car to provide food and beverages to the passengers.

Impact on tourism and development

The Vande Bharat Express will significantly reduce the travel time between Dehradun and Delhi, which currently ranges from five and a half to over nine hours by other trains. The train is expected to boost tourism and development in Uttarakhand, especially in the hill districts. The train will also provide easy access to various religious and cultural sites in Uttarakhand, such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie etc .