Bihar Welcomes 2 Vande Bharat Trains as PM Flags Off Virtually: Patna to Lucknow Journey Simplified; Ayodhya Accessible in 6 Hours

Patna: Bihar welcomed the inauguration of two Vande Bharat trains on Tuesday, both departing from Patna. The first train will travel from Patna to Lucknow via Ayodhya, offering a convenient route connecting the two cities. The journey from Patna to Ayodhya is expected to take approximately 6 hours and 10 minutes aboard the Vande Bharat express.

Simultaneously, Jharkhand is also set to receive a Vande Bharat train, traversing through two stations in Bihar, Gaya, and Sasaram. A special ceremony was organized at Patna Junction to mark the occasion, with dignitaries including Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Assembly Speaker Nandkishore Yadav, and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad in attendance. Governor Arlekar inaugurated the Patna-Gomtinagar Vande Bharat train, symbolizing a milestone in railway connectivity.

Expressing his delight, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad remarked, “As a staunch advocate of Lord Ram, I am thrilled to witness the inauguration of this train from my own Lok Sabha constituency, Patna Sahib. It’s a moment of immense happiness for me.”

The commencement of these trains aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the country’s railway infrastructure. During a recent video conference, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for 6,000 railway projects valued at over Rs 85 crore. Additionally, he flagged off 10 new Vande Bharat trains, including three operating under the East Central Railway jurisdiction, with two originating from Patna.

The Patna-Gomtinagar-Patna Vande Bharat Express (22345/22346) will operate six days a week, excluding Fridays. The inaugural journey departed from Patna at 09:45 hrs today, reaching Gomtinagar (Lucknow) at 18:15 hrs. Regular operations will commence from March 18.

Similarly, the New Jalpaiguri-Patna-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express (22233/22234) inaugurated its service today, departing from New Jalpaiguri at 09:45 hrs and arriving at Patna Jn at 17:30 hrs. Regular services will commence from March 14, running six days a week except Tuesdays.

Furthermore, the Ranchi-Varanasi Vande Bharat service also commenced today, passing through Gaya and Sasaram railway stations in Bihar, enhancing connectivity across the region.