By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: A new Vande Bharat Express train connecting Howrah from here was introduced today. The Bhagalpur -Howrah Vande Bharat Express train is among six such new trains introduced virtually today in different railway routes of country by PM Narendra Modi.
The new Vande Bharat train from here was flagged off by union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu who was present at function held at railway station here to mark introduction of services of new train.
The 22310 Bhagalpur-Howrah Vande Bharat Express will depart from here at 15.20 hrs and reach Howrah at 21.20 hrs. The 22309 Howrah -Bhagalpur Vande Bharat Express will leave Howrah at 7.45 hrs and arrive here at 14.05 hrs.
The new train that would pass through Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal has been provided stoppages at Barahat, Mandar Hill, Hansdiha, Nonihat, Dumka, Rampurhat, Bolpur stations enroute. The services of the train would be available on all days barring Friday of week.
With introduction of the new train, a pending demand of railway users here has been fulfilled. However, members of some local organizations as railway users in number of cases feel the timing of the new train needs to be revised to ensure increased purposes of people here is served by the new train.
The local organizations in favour of revising timing of the train mostly feel day time arrival of the train at Howrah would better serve purposes of people here. Speaking at the function to mark the occasion, the union minister of state for railways said the new Vande Bharat Express train from here would boost trade and commerce in this region.
The train would prove useful for people associated with local silk industry as well for people residing in coal and mineral rich areas of Jharkhand. Lauding role of PM Modi and Ashwini Vaishnaw, union railway minister in fulfilling aspirations of people related to railways he said taking into consideration needs of general class passengers the railway is all set to introduce fifty Amrit Bharat Express trains in different routes in next six month.
Addressing needs of all section of railway users is priority of Modi government, he added. Manish Kumar Gupta, divisional railway manager, Malda division beside other railway authorities were among those present on the occasion.
- Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516
