Bhagalpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bhagalpur on February 24, where he will release the 19th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. During this visit, he is also expected to announce two new Vande Bharat Express trains for Bihar. According to sources, one train will run between Bhagalpur and Patna, while the other will operate from Pataliputra to Rani Kamalapati station in Madhya Pradesh. However, railway officials have not made any official confirmation regarding this yet.
The Bhagalpur-Patna Vande Bharat Express is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities. Covering a distance of 234 km, the journey will now take just three hours instead of the current five hours. A pitline test for this train is likely to be conducted after February 15, paving the way for its official launch. The train will have a chair car configuration, making it a faster and more comfortable travel option.
Currently, several Vande Bharat trains operate from Patna, connecting it to cities like Lucknow, Delhi, Ranchi, Banka, Bhagalpur, Saharsa, and New Jalpaiguri. Meanwhile, Indian Railways has also introduced a new rule regarding onboard food services. Passengers who do not opt for meals while booking their tickets will still have the option to purchase food during the journey by paying a fixed price. This change comes after frequent complaints that IRCTC staff refused to provide meals to passengers willing to pay.
Additionally, plans are in place to introduce a Vande Bharat Sleeper train between Bhopal and Lucknow, extending to Patliputra (Patna). However, passengers will have to wait for about two months before its official launch. The sleeper version of Vande Bharat will consist of 20 coaches, providing a high-speed overnight travel option between Rani Kamalapati and Patliputra.
