PM Modi Launches India's First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train from Malda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off India’s first-ever Vande Bharat Sleeper Train on the Guwahati–Kolkata route from Malda Town railway station in West Bengal. Designed for long-distance overnight travel, the fully air-conditioned train promises an airline-like experience at affordable fares, significantly enhancing passenger comfort and safety on one of the country’s busiest corridors.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the new sleeper service will reduce travel time on the Howrah–Guwahati route by approximately 2.5 hours. The government expects the train to provide a major boost to tourism, including religious travel, while meeting the evolving transportation needs of a modern and mobile India.

During the event, the Prime Minister also launched and inaugurated multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth over ₹3,250 crore. These initiatives aim to strengthen connectivity across West Bengal and the North-Eastern states, accelerating economic development and improving access for passengers, traders, students, and migrant workers.

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At a public function, Modi virtually flagged off four Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting New Jalpaiguri with Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli, and Alipurduar with SMVT Bengaluru and Mumbai (Panvel). The PMO noted that these services would provide affordable, reliable long-distance rail connectivity while reinforcing inter-state economic and social linkages.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for several major railway projects, including the Balurghat–Hili new rail line, advanced freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed, and modernisation of Vande Bharat maintenance infrastructure in Jalpaiguri district. These projects are expected to enhance logistics efficiency, improve passenger services, and generate employment in north Bengal.

Additionally, Modi flagged off two LHB-coach train services aimed at improving connectivity to Bengaluru and laid the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway-31D. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that over a dozen new trains are being introduced in West Bengal, with 101 railway stations under redevelopment, including New Jalpaiguri, which is set to emerge as a world-class transport hub.

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