Bolstering the connectivity between two major cities of the country, PM Modi on Tuesday green signaled another Vande Bharat Express train, which will operate between Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi and Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.
The semi-high-speed train was flagged off by Modi virtually from Ahmedabad along with the unveiling of several other railway projects in and across the country.
“Railway facilities have improved in Jharkhand, right from connectivity to services. Unless the connectivity is improved, development will not come. Coal from Jharkhand is being taken to all parts of the country at a faster speed, which helps in boosting the economy,” Governor of Jharkhand CP Radhakrishnan informed.
Notably, the governor added that Rs 350 crore projects are underway in the state for the beautification and setting up of different facilities at the Ranchi station.
The state’s first Vande Bharat Express started on the Ranchi-Patna route, which was flagged off on June 27, 2023, while the second Vande Bharat Express between Ranchi and Howrah was flagged off on September 24 2023.
Pricing, timing,and route details
The regular service of the Ranchi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express will commence on March 18, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Ranchi, Nishant Kumar told PTI.
The train will operate six days a week, excluding Thursday, with a travel time of 7 hours and 50 minutes covering a distance of 571 km.
The fare between Ranchi and Varanasi will be Rs 2,325 for the Executive AC Chair Car, and Rs 1,160 for AC Chair Car excluding a meal.
Coming to the schedule, the train will depart Ranchi railway station at 5.10 am and reach Varanasi at 1 pm. While returning, it will leave Varanasi at 4.05 pm and reach Ranchi at 11.55 pm.
The train will stop at 6 major stations including Muri, Bokaro Steel City, Koderma, Gaya, Sasaram, and Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction.
Meanwhile, PM Modi also inaugurated the Ranchi-Bondamunda railway line and stalls under the ‘One Station One Product’ scheme at Ranchi, Hatia, Govindpur Road, Itki, Muri, Piska, Silli, Tangarbasuli, Tatisilwai stations, Barkakana, Ranchi Road and Pradhan Khanta stations.