Varanasi, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday flagged off Uttar Pradesh’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between Varanasi and New Delhi, marking a major expansion of rail connectivity in the state.
The train will connect Varanasi with the national capital, with scheduled stops at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. The service will link several important urban centres and surrounding districts.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the launch as a historic occasion for rail passengers travelling between Delhi and Kashi. He said the new service would save time and enhance the overall travel experience.
Addressing the gathering at the flag-off ceremony, Adityanath thanked the Prime Minister for the “gift” of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train.
Drawing a parallel with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution to national integration, the Chief Minister said Patel had united more than 563 princely states to build an integrated India, while Indian Railways was connecting the country from north to south and east to west, strengthening national unity.
“Travelling from Varanasi to Delhi once took 13 to 14 hours. The state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will now cover the distance in just 8 to 9 hours, resulting in substantial savings of both time and effort for passengers,” he said.
Adityanath also highlighted the affordability and safety of railway travel, remarking that the Railways was offering a month’s worth of safe travel for less than what many people spent on tea or paan in a single day.
Highlighting improvements in railway infrastructure, he said all railway lines in Uttar Pradesh had been converted to broad gauge and fully electrified.
He said unmanned level crossings, which earlier posed serious safety risks and often resulted in fatalities, had been addressed through the construction of railway overbridges and underpasses.
Referring to the impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Adityanath said 157 railway stations in the state had been modernised. He added that several stations now reflected Kashi’s cultural identity and offered facilities comparable to VIP airport lounges.
He also said railway tracks and modern toilets had become cleaner, with improved hygiene standards.
The Chief Minister further noted that more than 1,000 kilometres of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor passed through Uttar Pradesh. He said dedicated freight lines would help ensure the safe and timely transportation of raw materials and goods for traders.
Speaking about future connectivity, Adityanath said that under Prime Minister Modi’s vision, a proposed bullet train service between Delhi and Kashi could bring down the journey time to around three-and-a-half hours.
He added that such a service would be simpler, more convenient and more affordable than air travel.
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