PM Narendra Modi virtually flags off Odisha's second Vande Bharat Express from Puri-Rourkela

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually flagged off the much-awaited second Vande Bharat Express in Odisha. The second Vande Bharat will run between Puri-Rourkela six days a week.

Apart from Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off eight more Vande Bharat Express trains, to help improve connectivity across 11 states namely Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.

The popularity of Vande Bharat trains is constantly rising. So far, over 1,11,00,000 passengers have already travelled in them, said PM Modi.

"25 Vande Bharat trains are currently running and now nine more added. The day is not far when these trains will connect all parts of the country. Today people of Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gujarat will get the facility of Vande Bharat Express trains. These new Vande Bharat Express trains depict the new energy of the country," said Modi.

Speaking on the occasion, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "Under PM Narendra Modi's vision, the railway sector has transformed in the past nine years. Several new facilities are being installed across railway stations."