PM Inaugurates India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train From Malda, West Bengal
PM Modi Flags Off India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, Cutting Travel Time on Howrah-Guwahati Route
Malda, Jan 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train, connecting Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya), at Malda Town station in north Bengal. The PM also virtually flagged off the return Guwahati–Howrah Vande Bharat sleeper service.
During the event, Modi interacted with children and school students onboard the train, emphasizing the government’s commitment to modern, efficient, and comfortable rail travel.
According to a statement from the PMO, the fully air conditioned Vande Bharat sleeper train has been designed to provide passengers an “airline like travel experience at economical fares”, making long distance journeys faster, safer, and more convenient. The new service is expected to cut travel time by approximately 2.5 hours on the Howrah–Guwahati route, providing a boost to tourism, religious travel, and regional connectivity.
Later, at a public event in Malda, the PM dedicated several rail and road infrastructure projects worth Rs 3,250 crore, and laid foundation stones for new developments aimed at strengthening connectivity and promoting economic growth in West Bengal and the North East.
During his two-day visit to eastern India, Modi is scheduled to tour poll-bound West Bengal and Assam, combining high-profile infrastructure launches with political engagements as the 2026 assembly elections approach.
