Photo Source: ANI
PM Modi flags off Amritsar-Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express, boosting devotee travel
Amritsar (Punjab), August 10 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off the Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express, a move hailed as a “great boon” for pilgrims, tourists, businessmen, and daily commuters.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, in a post on X, thanked the Prime Minister for gifting the fourth Vande Bharat Express to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, linking it directly with another holy city, Amritsar. “This makes Katra one of the best-connected rail destinations in India,” Singh said, sharing a video of the launch.
The new service is expected to significantly ease travel for devotees visiting the revered shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as promote religious tourism in the region.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi also flagged off two other Vande Bharat Express trains – Bengaluru–Belagavi and Nagpur (Ajni)–Pune – at KSR Railway Station in Bengaluru.
The Prime Minister said these launches reflect the central government’s commitment to modernising Indian Railways and offering passengers a world-class travel experience.
During his visit, PM Modi also inaugurated the Yellow Line of the Bengaluru Metro from RV Road (Ragigudda) to Bommasandra and interacted warmly with children at the railway station.