PM Modi flags off North East's first Vande Bharat Express

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express to connect Guwahati to New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal and the Northeast. Along with the semi-high-speed train, PM Modi also gave the nation a gift by dedicating the electrified parts of New Bongaigaon-Dudhnoi-Mendipather and Guwahati-Chaparmukh. Additionally, he opened Lumding's new DEMU/MEMU (workshop for trains) shed. Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri would be connected by the first and third semi-high-speed trains in Bengal, which would travel the 411 km route in five hours and thirty minutes. It will operate on all days but Tuesday.