Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express of Assam connecting Guwahati to New Jalpaiguri on Monday.

Apart from this Prime Minister dedicated the 91.03 Route Kilometre long New Bongaigaon – Dudhnoi - Mendipathar and 91 Route Kilometre long Guwahati – Chaparmukh newly electrified section and inaugurated a new DEMU/MEMU shed that has been constructed recently at Lumding.

Gulab Chand Kataria,  Governor of Assam; Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam and Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology were present at Guwahati station. Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minster of Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Ministry of Ayush; Nisith Parmanik, Union Minister of State for Home and Youth Affairs and Sports; Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister of Transport, Fisheries & Excise of Assam; Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and Pabitra Margherita, MP (Rajya Sabha); Smt. Queen Oja, MP (Lok Sabha); Siddhartha Bhattacharya, MLA were those present on occasion among others. Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) along with other senior officials of Headquarter and Divisions were also present at Guwahati Station during the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said that today is a huge day for the connectivity of the Northeast as three development works are being accomplished together. He further added that, the Guwahati -New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat train will further strengthen the centuries-old ties between Assam and West Bengal. This will increase ease of travel and provide huge benefits to students and will increase job opportunities arising out of tourism and business. He said that this Vande Bharat will provide connectivity to Maa Kamakhya Temple, Kaziranga, Manas National Park, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Furthermore, the Prime Minister pointed out that it will enhance travel and tourism in Shillong, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya and Tawang and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh.

With the operation of the State of the art Vande Bharat Express in Assam, people of Northeast, Assam in particular will be able to experience travelling by rail with speed and comfort. As the Semi high Speed train comprise of all latest amenities, the difference can be well experienced by the people of Northeast during travel. The Vande Bharat Express offers a myriad of superior and aircraft-like travelling experiences. It is equipped with advanced state-of-the-art safety features including an indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System - KAVACH. It will also have a Wi-Fi content on-demand facility. Every coach is equipped with 32” screens providing passenger information and infotainment and side recliner seat facility. Executive Coaches have the added feature of rotating seats.

With the electrification of 91.03 km long New Bongaigaon – Dudhnoi - Mendipathar section, freight and passenger carrying trains with electric traction can now enter Meghalaya from any parts of our country.  Another 91 km long Guwahati – Chaparmukh newly electrified section on the Rajdhani route will provide pollution free transportation, higher speed of trains, reduced running time of trains and reduced cost of train operation. The new DEMU/MEMU shed that has been constructed recently at Lumding will be helpful for maintaining DEMU rakes operating in this region leading to better operational feasibility and passenger amenity.