Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the first Vande Bharat Express in the Northeast from Assam’s Guwahati to West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri. Addressing the gathering through video conferencing, PM Modi said that his government has been working towards increasing the digital, physical, social and cultural connectivity with the people of the Northeastern states. The PM said that the new train will have state-of -art technology like CCTV, bio vacuum toilet, a separate washroom for disabled people. The PM said, adding that the infrastructural development will improve the quality of life of the people and increase tourism in the state.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who also addressed the gathering, said, “The allocation for the railways for the northeast was Rs 2,000 crore but, under the Modi government, it has increased to Rs 10, 200 crore, helping expedite projects in the region.” The PM is also scheduled to dedicate New Bongaigaon–Dudhnoi–Mendipather and Guwahati–Chaparmukh newly electrified sections to the country.