Mon Sep 16 07:00:18 UTC 2024: ## PM Modi Inaugurates India’s First ‘Vande Metro’ Service in Gujarat, Flags Off Several Vande Bharat Trains

**Ahmedabad, September 16:** Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in his home state of Gujarat on Sunday evening and will inaugurate a slew of development projects on Monday, including India’s first Vande Metro service connecting Bhuj and Ahmedabad.

The Vande Metro service will be flagged off by PM Modi at Ahmedabad Junction. This fully unreserved air-conditioned train will travel 360 kilometers at a top speed of 110 km/h and cover the distance in 5 hours and 45 minutes, stopping at nine stations. The train will depart from Bhuj at 5:05 am and reach Ahmedabad Junction at 10:50 am.

PM Modi will also launch the second phase of the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro rail service and take a ride on the metro train.

Besides the Vande Metro, the Prime Minister will also flag off five new Vande Bharat trains operating on different routes: Kolhapur-Pune, Pune-Hubballi, Nagpur-Secunderabad, Agra Cantt to Banaras, and Durg to Visakhapatnam. The first 20-coach Vande Bharat train will be launched on the Varanasi-Delhi route.

Other inaugurations and foundation-laying ceremonies include:

* Inauguration of the 4th edition of RE-INVEST 2024 in Gandhinagar
* Inauguration of a 30 MW solar system and a 35 MW BESS Solar PV Project at Kutch Lignite Thermal Power Station
* Inauguration of 220 Kilovolt substations at Morbi and Rajkot
* Launch of the Single Window IT System (SWITS) of the International Financial Services Centres Authority
* Sanction of over 30,000 houses under the PMAY-Gramin and release of the first instalment for these homes
* Launch of construction of houses under the PMAY scheme
* Foundation stone laying for projects concerning the quadrupling of the Samakhiali–Gandhidham and Gandhidham–Adipur railway lines, development of iconic roads and the construction of flyovers in Ahmedabad city.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Gujarat comes on the heels of his being sworn in for a third term as Prime Minister in June. This trip is expected to further bolster his popularity in the state, which is crucial for the upcoming general elections.

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