Union Home Minister Amit Shah today flagged off New-Delhi-Katra (Jammu & Kashmir) Vande Bharat Express in the national capital. This will be India’s second Vande Bharat Express which is an engine-less self-propelled train. The first Vande Bharat Express between New Delhi and Varanasi was flagged off by PM Modi.
LIVE: Home Minister Shri @AmitShah flags off New Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi to Maa Vaishno Devi, Katra. #VandeBharatMaaKeDwar https://t.co/80WERA3DI8
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 3, 2019
Speaking on the occasion, HM Amit Shah said that Gandhiji was a great man who not got the world to change the way they live their lives. One of his important messages was ‘Swadeshi’ and the Swadeshi movement was an integral part of the Independence movement. “Today I am proud that a ‘Swadeshi’ (made in India) train is going to go to Katra from New Delhi,” he said.
Speaking on the journey of Mohandas to Mahatma (of Gandhiji), he said that that also took part in a train “when he was insulted and thrown out of the train.” Shah was speaking about the incident when Gandhiji faced racial discrimination in South Africa when he was travelling to Pretoria. He was thrown out of the railway compartment on instigation of a white man. “Then Bapu decided that he will uproot the British rule from India,” Shah said.
Referring to Article 370 as the biggest hurdle in development of Kashmir, Shah said he is confident that after abrogation of Article 370, we will be able to get rid of terrorism and terrorist mindset in Kashmir.
The Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express is being launched during the Navratri and is expected to reduce travel time to Vaishno Devi Katra station by almost 40%. The tickets will be available for booking on the IRCTC website as well as Rail Connect App. Train number 22439/22440 will be operational from 5th October. The 16-coach New-Delhi – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra – New Delhi trains will run all days of the week except Tuesdays.
The ‘Make in India’ Train 18 will run at the speed of 130 km/hour on the Delhi-Katra route.
Last month, Times of India had reported that the production of Train 18 has stopped. Speaking to OpIndia, the railway officials rubbished all claims of an internal feud between electrical and mechanical departments and alleged ‘derailment of production’.
