Big gift for J&K: Amit Shah flags off Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express

Oct 03rd , 2019

Delhi -Katra Vande Bharat express was on Thursday flagged off by Union minister Amit Shah. During the inauguration, Amit Shah termed the train a “big gift” for Jammu and Kashmir.

Vande Bharat Express, known as Train 18, has been inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah. Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Train 18 on Thursday from Delhi.

The first commercial run of the Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express will be on October 5 and booking of tickets is open on the IRCTC website. The train will bring down the travel time between Delhi and Katra, the last station on the way to Vaishno Devi temple, to eight hours from 12 hours.

Speaking at the launch of the Vande Bharat Express, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express is a big gift for Jammu and Kashmir's development and for promoting religious tourism. He added that Article 370 was the biggest roadblock in Jammu and Kashmir’s development." "Within 10 years, it will be one of the most developed regions," Amit Shah said.

Railways should document its relationship with Mahatma Gandhi as it forms a significant episode in the freedom struggle, Home Minister Amit Shah said. At the launch of the Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express, Union minister Piyush Goyal said the Railways will connect the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari before 15th August, 2022.

Know All About Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Train:

• The semi-high speed Train 18, which was rechristened as Vande Bharat Express, is country's second such train. The first Vande Bharat Express on Delhi- Varanasi route began operations in February this year.
• The indigenously developed Vande Bharat train can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph, making it India's fastest train. However, officials say this train will be running at 130 kmph due to track limitations on the route.
• The Vande Bharat train number 22439 will begin operations from Delhi at 6 am and reach Katra in 8 hours at 2 pm. From Katra, the train will start its journey at 3 pm and reach Delhi at 11 pm.
• The train will stop at Ambala Cantonment, Ludhiana and Jammu Tawi for two minutes each.
• The minimum fare of Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express is Rs. 1,630 and the maximum fare is Rs. 3,014.
• The train will run throughout the week except Tuesday. Vande Bharat Express has two Executive AC Chair Car and 12 chair car coaches which have sensor doors.
• Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express offers plush interiors and is equipped with wi-fi, bio vaccum toilets, GPS-based infotainment system, CCTV surveillance, among other features. The train has continuous windows and the glasses have been provided with anti-spall films.
• Other features of the Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express include plastic bottle crusher machines, phone handsets for direct communication between train pilots and guard, a spacious pantry with ROs, one deep freezer for storing ice cream and welcome drinks, three hot cases and two bottle coolers have also been installed.
• Roller blind sun screen has been provided on the look-out glass to protect the train pilots from glare and improved insulation has been provided to reduce noise level in the driver's cab.