Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kerala’s inaugural Vande Bharat Express on Tuesday, which will operate from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod.
The flagging off ceremony took place at Thiruvananthapuram Central Station, where Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan were also present, marking the momentous occasion.
As per the Prime Minister’s Office, the Vande Bharat Express will traverse through 11 districts in Kerala, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasargod.
The Vande Bharat Express is a domestically produced, semi-high-speed, self-propelled train set that boasts cutting-edge passenger amenities, offering travelers a faster, more comfortable, and convenient mode of transportation.
Prime Minister Modi, who is currently visiting Kerala, will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple projects worth over Rs 3,200 crore during his visit.
Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi flagged off India’s 16th #VandeBharatExpress from Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station. #RailInfra4Kerala#VandeBharat pic.twitter.com/Sn2FjMTRxF
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) April 25, 2023
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the unique Kochi Water Metro, a pioneering project that links 10 islands around Kochi through battery-operated electric hybrid boats, providing seamless connectivity with the city.
In addition, the rail electrification of the Dindigul-Palani-Palakkad section will also be dedicated by the Prime Minister as part of the ceremony.
As part of the event, PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for several railway projects, including the redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Varkala Sivagiri railway stations.
Additionally, the comprehensive development of the Thiruvananthapuram area, including Nemon and Kochuveli, and the increase of sectional speed in the Thiruvananthapuram-Shoranur section will also be initiated by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister will also ceremoniously lay the foundation stone for the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram.
