Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express in Thiruvananthapuram
The Hindu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express at 11.10 a.m. from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express at 11.10 a.m. from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station.
The semi-high-speed, fully-air conditioned train service, covering 11 districts, links capital Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in the north of the State.
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw handed over a green flag to the PM who waved it and saw the train off on its inaugural trip. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shashi Tharoor MP were present on the occasion.
Earlier, Mr. Modi had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram from Kochi shortly after 10 p.m. From the the Technical Area of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, he had gone straight to the Central Railway Station at Thampanoor, which has been under tight security cover in anticipation of his visit.
Along the route from the airport to the city, Mr. Modi was greeted by hundreds of people who thronged the footpaths.
On his arrival at the station, he entered the Vande Bharat Express and interacted with selected school students who were given an opportunity to ride on the inaugural trip. Mr. Modi was seen speaking to the smiling children, shaking hands with them and checking out their art works of the Vande Bharat Express and of himself.
The inaugural service will have stops at 14 railway stations. Souvenir passes for travel had been issued to groups including prominent personalities, rail enthusiasts, school students and journalists.
Amol Palekar advocates against pre-censorship in films and theatre, urging the government to protect artists' freedom of expression.
BJP legislators demand release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, threatening protests and border blockade if demands not met.
Odisha loses 790 elephants in a decade, with electrocution as the leading cause of unnatural deaths.
ASI issues notice to halt construction at Arya Akshobhya Teertha Mutt near Rameshwara temple in Shivamogga.
Madurai High Court orders removal of encroachments along Madurai-Dindigul highway, Corporation and Highways Department officials conduct joint operation.
Maharashtra Congress chief initiates signature campaign for return of ballot papers, sparking nationwide debate on EVMs.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner K. Vidyakumari on Wednesday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to undertake periodical maintenance of NH66 without giving room for complaints.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw updates Lok Sabha on Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. shareholding, Goa willing to relinquish.
One dies, eight hospitalised after inhaling HCL fumes at pharma company in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district. About 400 litres of HCL leaked from the reactor-cum-receiver tank at Unit-III of the company, which affected nine workers, says Collector. While the condition of six of them is stable, two are on ventilator support. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directs authorities to provide advanced treatment to the victims. Home Minister Anitha expresses anger over repeated such incidents.
Parents and social workers in Thoothukudi request new Anganwadi buildings due to unsafe conditions in current rental buildings.
Delta districts face heavy rainfall, prompting coordinated efforts to mitigate damages, with NDRF teams deployed for rescue operations.