Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Howrah to Guwahati in Assam and announced several rail and road projects worth over Rs 3,250 crore to election-bound Bengal during his two-day visit to the state.
The PM, who flagged off the train from the Malda Town railway station and was accompanied by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, said, “Today, we have begun the fast progress of Bengal from Malda. These railway projects will benefit the people of Bengal, especially the youth, and also boost business in the region. This new Vande Bharat Sleeper train will enhance the quality of long journeys, making them more memorable. The Vande Bharat represents how trains in a Viksit Bharat should be.”
Earlier, he interacted with school students aboard the train which had been decorated for the ceremony.
The PM also laid the foundation stone for multiple rail and road infrastructure projects, aimed at strengthening connectivity and accelerating development in West Bengal and the North East.
“There was a time when we looked at trains abroad and wished for similar ones in India. Today, those dreams are coming true. I see foreign tourists taking pictures of Indian trains and metros, posting about the development and transformation of our railways. The Vande Bharat train is made in India, built with our sweat. This is the first sleeper train connecting the land of Ma Kali with the land of Ma Kamakhya,” he said.
‘Airline-like travel experience’
The first Vande Bharat Sleeper is fully air-conditioned and designed to offer passengers an airline-like travel experience at economical fares. It will make long-distance journeys faster, safer, and more convenient, reducing travel time by around 2.5 hours on the Howrah–Guwahati route. The train is also expected to boost religious tourism.
With ergonomically designed berths, ample luggage space, modern toilets, divyangjan-friendly facilities, modular pantries, and advanced disinfectant technology, the sleeper ensures a comfortable overnight journey. Equipped with the indigenous Kavach system, advanced fire safety features, and CCTV surveillance, the train sets new benchmarks in safe, efficient, and world-class rail travel.
Four major railway projects
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for four major railway projects in West Bengal: new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, next-generation freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed, and modernisation of Vande Bharat train maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district. These projects will assist in passenger and freight operations, improve logistics efficiency in North Bengal, and generate employment opportunities in the region. He also inaugurated the electrification of rail lines between New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat, enabling faster, cleaner, and more energy-efficient train operations.
Four new Amrit Bharat Express trains
Modi virtually flagged off four New Amrit Bharat Express trains–New Jalpaiguri- Nagercoil Amrit Bharat Express; New Jalpaiguri-Tiruchirappalli Amrit Bharat Express; Alipurduar–SMVT Bengaluru Amrit Bharat Express; Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel) Amrit Bharat Express. These services will provide affordable and reliable long-distance rail connectivity for students, migrant workers, traders, etc., while also strengthening inter-state economic and social linkages.
“Today, Bengal received four new Amrit Bharat Express trains, which will help connect north Bengal with the west and south of India. These trains will also benefit tourists visiting Ganganagar, Dakshineswar, and Kalighat, as well as those travelling to Maharashtra and the South,” PM Modi said.
He also flagged off two new train services equipped with LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) coaches: Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru Express, and Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru Express—offering safe and comfortable travel to major IT and employment hubs such as Bengaluru.
“Indian Railways is becoming independent and upgraded. We are producing more locomotives than America and Europe, and exporting coaches that strengthen our economy and create employment. It is our mission to reduce distances,” he added.
Road connectivity projects
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the rehabilitation and four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway-31D, a key road project that will improve regional road connectivity and facilitate smoother movement of passengers and goods in North Bengal.
These projects are expected to play a vital role in building modern infrastructure and improved connectivity, strengthening the eastern and north-eastern regions as key growth engines.