Kolkata: Indian Railways is all set to enhance its connectivity in the eastern part of the country with the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express train between Patna in Bihar and Howrah in West Bengal, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off nine Vande Bharat trains on Sunday, September 24, 2023, ER sources said on Saturday.

A total of ten (10) districts (Patna, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Deoghar, Kolkata, Jamtara, Paschim Barddhaman, Purba Barddhaman, Hooghly, and Howrah) in both states will be covered by this train, which will cover a distance of 532 km from Patna to Howrah.

The semi-high-speed train is expected to cover this distance in 6 hours and 30 minutes, as compared to 8 hours by the current fastest originating train on this route.

The train will have an average speed of 82 km per hour, while the maximum permitted speed is 130 km/hr.

In Eastern Railway jurisdiction, the train will stop at Jasidih and Asansol to serve these two important cities with high-speed connectivity. It will also boost tourism and commercial business in the region.

The introduction of the Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat Express is a significant step by Indian Railways to improve rail connectivity in the eastern region of the country.

(With UNI inputs)