By Tanisha Mohanty
West Bengal and Assam will commence 11 new trains– comprising Amrit Bharat Express and Vande Bharat trains– which will increase connectivity to Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.The Vande Bharat Sleeper will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17.
With the upcoming assembly elections in Bengal, PM Modi will unveil the new train line in Of the eleven trains, eight will be Amrit Bharat Express trains and two will be Express trains. The first sleeper Vande Bharat train, constituting 11 Third AC coaches, 4 Second AC coaches and 1 First AC coach, will connect Howrah and Guwahati.
The high-speed capacity of the new sleeper train of up to 180 kmph will ensure efficient connectivity with the North-East region. Furthermore, the lower costs will provide more affordable options in comparison to air fares.
The Amrit Bharat Express trains will connect routes between New Jalpaiguri-Tiruchirappalli
SMVT Bengaluru-Alipurduar, Alipurduar-Panvel, Howrah-Delhi and more. Focusing on shorter routes and harnessing AI cost cuts and efficiency, these trains will provide affordable options for the lower middle class. Moreover, the two new express trains will link North Bengal with Bengaluru.
As the assembly elections approach, the initiative plays an important role in infrastructural development and affordable, high-speed interconnectedness, especially in North Bengal, where BJP won 30 from the 54 seats.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also stated the launch of these trains to be part of a more modern and advanced suspension system, ergonomic design and satisfy demands for increased linkage. However, Assam Rail Passengers’ Association (ARPA), All Assam Students Union and Assam Sahitya Sabha have protested against the low number of stoppages in Assam.
While West Bengal has eleven halts, the northeastern state only has two. The ARPA secretary urged the Railway Minister to make more stoppages since there are very few connectivity lines to places such as Barpeta Road and Kokrajhar.