Varanasi, November 8 (Udaipur Kiran): The holy city of Varanasi is all set to witness another major rail milestone as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will shortly flag off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from his parliamentary constituency. The main event will take place at platform number 8 of Banaras (Manduadih) Railway Station, where the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express, marking Varanasi’s eighth Vande Bharat service.
Since early morning, passengers and school children scheduled to travel on the newly launched train began gathering at the station. Luggage checks were conducted before passengers boarded the gleaming new coaches. Adding to the festive atmosphere, a colorful rangoli inspired by the Vande Bharat theme has been created on the station premises, drawing attention from visitors.
Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat: Connecting Spiritual Destinations
The Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express will be the first such service to connect three major spiritual cities — Kashi, Vindhyachal (Mirzapur), and Chitrakoot. The eight-coach train includes seven chair cars and one executive class coach.
To ensure security during the event, train operations between platforms 6 to 8 have been temporarily suspended. The new Vande Bharat Express will provide direct connectivity between Banaras and Khajuraho, cutting travel time by approximately two hours and forty minutes compared to existing services. The route is expected to give a major boost to religious tourism across eastern and central India.
Other Trains to Be Flagged Off
Alongside the Banaras–Khajuraho route, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate three other new Vande Bharat services:
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Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express, which will complete the journey in about 7 hours 45 minutes, benefiting passengers from Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and Saharanpur. It will also improve access to Haridwar via Roorkee.
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Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat Express, set to be the fastest train on this route, enhancing connectivity between Delhi, Bathinda, and Patiala while boosting trade and tourism in Punjab.
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Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, which will cover the distance in 8 hours 40 minutes, saving travelers over two hours. It will strengthen links between key IT and commercial hubs across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
Railway Minister Inspects Varanasi Station
On Friday evening, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited Banaras Railway Station to inspect arrangements ahead of the launch. Speaking to the media, he said that over 7.25 crore passengers have traveled on Vande Bharat trains so far, highlighting their growing popularity.
He added that modern services like Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat trains are part of the government’s broader effort to enhance passenger comfort and rail infrastructure. The minister also mentioned that redevelopment work is currently underway at over 1,300 railway stations across India.
The event will mark another major milestone in India’s rail modernization journey, with Varanasi once again at the center of the country’s transformational transport initiatives.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.