New Delhi :
The Railway Ministry has announced plans to introduce a new variant of the indigenous Vande Bharat trains, known as the Vande Metro, for short-distance routes by the end of this year.
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Vande Metro will be designed to run at a high frequency of up to four or five times a day for distances less than 100 kilometers.
This will make journey both comfortable and affordable for commuters.
The new trains will help to ease congestion on suburban train networks and provide a world-class transport option for job seekers and students, ultimately saving time.
The decision to launch the Vande Metro was based on the positive response to the Vande Bharat trains, which can reach speeds of over 160 kilometers per hour.
In addition to the Vande Metro, the government also plans to introduce sleeper class Vande Bharat trains.
It is being made with BHEL and Titagarh Wagons consortium winning the contract to supply 80 trains and provide maintenance services for 35 years.
The trains will be supplied over a period of 72 months at a rate of Rs 120 crore per train, excluding taxes and duties.
