Kolkata/New Delhi/IBNS: Hours after performing the last rites of his mother Heeraben Modi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the country's seventh and West Bengal's first Vande Bharat Express train in Kolkata.

Modi, who was earlier scheduled to be physically present in the city, flagged off virtually from Howrah Station.

Among other attendees were Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari and other public representatives.

The train, which is coloured in blue and white, will run from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri covering 564-km in 7.45 hours.

Vande Bharat will halt at Bolpur, Malda Town and Barsoi in the course of the journey from south to north Bengal.

The Prime Minister has also flagged off the Joka-Taratala metro route which will facilitate a further smooth travel of people of Kolkata. 

In his address at the flagging off event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The history of India's Independence is present everywhere in Bengal.

"Today the Vande Bharat train is flagging off from the same land where Vande Mataram was chanted."