Jharkhand Gets Third Vande Bharat Express

• 13 Mar 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the PM inaugurated the third Vande Bharat Express train, which will operate between Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi and Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.

Key Points

• The semi-high-speed train was flagged off by the PM virtually from Ahmedabad along with the unveiling of several other railway projects in and across the country.
• According to the governor Rs 350 crore projects are underway in the state for the beautification and setting up of different facilities at the Ranchi station.
  • The state’s first Vande Bharat Express started on the Ranchi-Patna route, which was flagged off on June 27, 2023.
  • The second Vande Bharat Express between Ranchi and Howrah was flagged off on September 24 2023.
• The PM also inaugurated the Ranchi-Bondamunda railway line and stalls under the ‘One Station One Product’ scheme at Ranchi, Hatia, Govindpur Road, Itki, Muri, Piska, Silli, Tangarbasuli, Tatisilwai stations, Barkakana, Ranchi Road and Pradhan Khanta stations.

One Station One Product Scheme

• It is an initiative by the Indian Railways, under the Ministry of Railways.
• It was launched with a vision to promote ‘Vocal for Local’ on March 25, 2022.
• It provides uniquely designed sale outlets for locals to sell indigenous products nationwide.
• This scheme is designed by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
• It aims to build each railway station as a promotional hub and showcasing local and indigenous manufacturing products.

Vande Bharat Trains

• It is an indigenously designed and manufactured semi high speed, self-propelled train that is touted as the next major leap for the Indian Railways in terms of speed and passenger convenience since the introduction of Rajdhani trains.
• The first Vande Bharat was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai as part of the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs. 100 crore.
• The Vande Bharat was India’s first attempt at adaptation of the train set technology compared with conventional systems of passenger coaches hauled by separate locomotives.
• The train set configuration, though complex, is faster, easier to maintain, consumes less energy, and has greater flexibility in train operation.