Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, November 8, 2025, flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Banaras railway station in Varanasi, underscoring the government’s push to accelerate infrastructure development as a primary driver of the nation’s economic growth.
Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister asserted that infrastructure is the foundational element that has fueled the economic rise of developed countries worldwide, and India is now rapidly following that path.
New Routes for Enhanced Connectivity
The introduction of these four new semi-high-speed trains is aimed at significantly reducing travel time between major stations, enhancing regional mobility, and boosting tourism across key routes.
The new Vande Bharat Express routes are:
- Banaras—Khajuraho
- Lucknow—Saharanpur
- Firozpur—Delhi
- Ernakulam—Bengaluru
These trains, along with the “Namo Bharat” and “Amrit Bharat” trains, are described by the Prime Minister as laying the foundation for a new generation of Indian Railways.
Infrastructure as the Growth Engine
The Prime Minister stressed that infrastructure development is not limited to big bridges and highways but rather acts as a catalyst for overall regional development. He highlighted how increased connectivity and easy access to pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh, like Varanasi, have contributed thousands of crores of rupees to the state’s economy.
The continuous expansion of the Vande Bharat network is part of the larger strategic vision under the Gati Shakti Master Plan, which aims to integrate and streamline multi-modal transportation systems across the country to improve logistics and economic efficiency.
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