Tag: India

Jaishankar on Veiled Attack On Pakistan

Terror By Night, Trade By Day: Jaishankar In Veiled Attack On Pak

By LokMarg

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that India cannot have SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) meeting until one member continues to engage in acts of terrorism, adding that India will not tolerate a situation where “terrorism happens by night and trade happens by day.”

While responding to the question about not hearing anything on SAARC, Jaishankar at India International Centre said, “You have not heard very much about SAARC because, in the last few years, there isn’t very much to hear about. We have not had meetings because you have a member of SAARC who doesn’t conform to all the basic requirements of what a good membership is, and that is today an obstacle reality for the SAARC to meet. You know I said we cannot continue with acts of terrorism and say the cooperation will continue to happen nevertheless.”
“So, I think there are issues there and it’s time to recognize the seriousness of those issues and not allow terrorism to happen by night and trade by day. I don’t think the country is well served by that,” he added.

Earlier also, Jaishankar had blamed Pakistan for SAARC not being an active organisation. In December 2022, Jaishankar in Varanasi said that the SAARC currently is not active because one member of the SAARC believes that dealing with “neighbours is compatible with the factors of cross-border terrorism.”

Notably, the SAARC is the regional intergovernmental organization of eight countries of South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

While talking about having good relations with other neighbouring countries but not with Pakistan, Jaishankar said that they can’t have a normal relationship because of cross-border terrorism.

“I would say Pakistan obviously is the exception when it comes to the neighbourhood. Again, it needs very little explanation. The fact is that we cannot allow terrorism to be normalized. We cannot allow that to become the basis for getting us into discussions with Pakistan. So I don’t think to me, it’s a fairly common-sense proposition,” Jaishankar said.

“In fact, if anything, I’m still a little perplexed by why we had not arrived at this position earlier. But we have arrived at it now. And the issue really is that until there is a departure from I would say an abrogation of this policy of cross-border terrorism. Clearly, it is not possible to have a normal relationship with that particular neighbour,” he added. (ANI)

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US First-Time Tourist Visa

Wait Time For First-Time Tourist Visa Reduced: US Ambassador

By LokMarg

United States Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, on Wednesday, said that the wait time for first-time tourist visa interviews has been reduced by more than 50 per cent, adding that goal for 2023 is to process at least one million visas.

Speaking at IIT Delhi, Garcetti highlighted the progress made in visa processing, stating that the US Mission in India is currently processing visas faster than ever before.
Addressing the audience at IIT Delhi, Garcetti said, “We’re already doing this. We’re currently processing more visas, faster, than the US Mission in India ever has before. We have set a goal for ourselves to process at least a million visas in 2023, and we’re already more than halfway towards reaching that goal.”

“Our investments have brought real results, and we’ve seen wait times for first-time tourist visa interviews fall by more than 50 per cent,” he added.

To remove barriers that hinder qualified travelers from experiencing the United States, Garcetti emphasized the need to expand operations.

The US Ambassador said that they will continue to invest in expanding the visa operations and broadening the team.

“We’ll find innovative solutions to streamline the visa process, such as reducing the need for in-person interviews, which allows consular teams around the world to assist in processing visas for the growing number of Indian travellers,” the envoy said.

India and US are doing every bit of effort to make the visa process smooth and in that process, recently, during his interaction with the Indian community in the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Indian professionals can renew their work visas without travelling abroad.

“America’s new consulates will be opened in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. It has now been decided that the H1B visa renewal can be done in the US itself,” PM Modi said while addressing the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC.

India is going to open a new consulate in Seattle this year. Apart from this, Indian Consulates will be opened in 2 more cities in America.

“Together we are not just forming policies and agreements, we are shaping lives, dreams and destinies,” said PM Modi.

Meanwhile, at the IIT Delhi, Garcetti praised India and said that the country is improving lives and pulling people out of poverty through its transformative technology.

“Our countries (India and US) have so much in common because the Indian dream and the American dream are two sides of the same coin- we share the same vision. Our people want to achieve success for our communities and our families. We embrace possibility, new opportunities, new knowledge, and the chance to make a difference. We want to leave the world better off and more secure than we found it – not just for ourselves and our own countries, but for everyone,” the Ambassador said.

“Our connection is very personal, based on affinity and friendship. We’re linked by a diaspora community more than four million strong. Through educational and business connections, and an appreciation for each other’s cultures, our friendship grows along with our shared experience and shared ambitions,” he added.

Giving examples of its strong relationship with India, Garcetti said that last year one out of every five US student visas issued worldwide went to an Indian student, and over 200,000 Indians are studying in America. (ANI)

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Law commission chairman on need of hour

Sedition Law Is Need Of Hour: Law Commission Chairman

By LokMarg

The Law Commission of India Chairman Justice Rituraj Awasthi in an exclusive interview with ANI said that the Sedition law is the need of the hour and they have examined the usage of law and that it is much needed seeing the current condition of the country.

“Sedition law is very much needed. We have thoroughly examined the issue of the usage of Sedition law. We have submitted our report to the government. We have said that it is very much required in the present situation of the country for integrity and unity,” Justice Awasthi said while talking to ANI.
“From Kashmir to Kerala and from Punjab to North East, if you see the situation, you’ll see it’s required for the integrity of the country”, he added.

The Law Commission of India recently in its report submitted to Law Ministry recommended that Section 124A of IPC dealing with Sedition needs to be retained in the Indian Penal Code, through certain amendments, so as to bring about greater clarity regarding the usage of the provision.

We further recommend that the scheme of punishment provided under the said section be amended to ensure that it is brought in parity with the other offences under Chapter VI of IPC, stated the Law Commission report.

Moreover, cognizant of the views regarding the misuse of Section 124A, the Commission recommends that model guidelines curbing the same be issued by the Central Government. In this context, it is also alternatively suggested that a provision analogous to Section 196(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) may be incorporated as a proviso to Section 154 of CrPC, which would provide the requisite procedural safeguard before the filing of an FIR with respect to an offence under Section 124A of IPC, said Law Commission in its report to Law Ministry.

The reasons leading upto these recommendations have been deliberated over in detail in the enclosed Report and the Commission is of the firm belief that incorporating the same would go a long way in addressing the concerns associated with the usage of this provision, the report added.

Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Chairperson of the 22nd Law Commission of India in the report based on ‘Usage of the Law of Sedition’ stated, “We undertook a comprehensive study of the law relating to sedition and its usage in India, tracing its genesis and development.”

The Commission also analysed the history of sedition, both in colonial and independent India, the law on sedition in various jurisdictions, and the various pronouncements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the High Courts on the subject matter.

The Law Commission Reporter stated that it received a reference from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for a study of the usage of the provision of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and suggest amendments, if any.

The constitutionality of Section 124A of IPC was challenged before the Supreme Court. The Union of India assured the Supreme Court that it was re-examining Section 124A and the Court may not invest its valuable time in doing the same. Pursuant to the same and vide order passed on May 11, 2022, the Supreme Court directed the Central Government and all the State Governments to refrain from registering any FIR or taking any coercive measures, while suspending all continuing investigations in relation to Section 124A.

Further, it also directed that all pending trials, appeals, and proceedings be kept in abeyance. (ANI)

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Nagpur Lok Sabha

Length Of Highways In India Increased 59% In 9 Yrs: Gadkari

By LokMarg

The total length of national highways in India increased by about 59 per cent in the past nine years – since the current government came into power, said Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said and noted as a result of this expansion the country now has the second largest road network after the US.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Gadkari said the total length of National Highways was 91,287 km in 2013-14, which has now increased to 145,240 km in 2022-23.
He also said that, in the last nine years, the increase in four-lane highways rose about two times. In 2013-14, the length of four-lane highways was 18,371 km which has increased to 44,654 km now.

Secretary road transport and Highways Anurag Jain and NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav were also present at the press conference.

Further, Gadkari said with the introduction of FASTag, there has been a significant jump in toll collection. The minister further informed that the revenues from tolls rose to Rs 41,342 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 4,770 crore in 2013-14. The central government aims to increase the toll revenue to Rs 130,000 crore by 2030, he added.

Gadkari said the waiting time at toll plazas has also reduced as a result of this.

“In 2014, the waiting time at the toll plazas was 734 seconds, whereas in 2023 this has reduced to 47 seconds. We are hopeful that we will bring it down to 30 second soon,” he said.

Minister spoke about the transformative impact of FASTag on travel experiences in India, saying it has revolutionised the concept of toll payments, eliminating the need for cash transactions. This breakthrough, he said citing some research, has saved approximately Rs 70,000 crore in wasted fuel expenses.

For the northeast region, Gadkari said special emphasis is being laid on the expansion in the road highway network in the far east region, saying projects worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore are being carried out in the region.

On green initiatives taken by the government, Minister pointed out that his Ministry has utilised 30 lakh tons of garbage in road construction for the Delhi Ring Road project, demonstrating a proactive approach towards waste management and sustainable infrastructure development. (ANI)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Modi Congratulates Athletes For Winning 202 Medals At Special Olympics Summer Games

By LokMarg

PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated the athletes who represented India at the Special Olympics Summer Games in Berlin and won 202 medals including 76 Gold Medals.

India finished the final day of the Games by taking their medal tally to 202 medals (76 gold, 75 silver and 51 bronze), with the last of the medals coming from the athletics track.
“Congratulations to our incredible athletes who represented India at the Special Olympics Summer Games in Berlin and won 202 medals including 76 Gold Medals. In their success, we celebrate the spirit of inclusivity and applaud the perseverance of these remarkable athletes,” PM Modi tweeted.

The Special Olympics World Games 2023 came to a close here on Sunday, after an evocative, emotional and triumphant closing ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate in the centre of the city. The gate had served as a restricted zone when the city was divided by the Wall, and has, ever since been a beacon of unity — a fitting parable for a sporting event that celebrates unity, diversity and special skills.

Indian athletes notched six medals from the track events (2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze). The headlines would undoubtedly go to the gold medallists Aanchal Goyal (400m, Level B Female) and Ravimathi Arumugam (400m, Level C Female) who blew away their competition to take the top of the podium. And yet, it is important to note that the color of the medal is not in itself a judge of the performance. Saket Kundu, who had earlier grabbed a silver medal in the mini javelin Level B, also won a bronze in the Level B 400m, a rare double act in the track and field. (ANI)

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Antony on congress

LDF, Cong Showing Fake Unity: Antony

By LokMarg

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Anil K Antony on Tuesday said that the Left Democratic Front and the Congress party are fooling the people in the country by trying to create a fake unity.

Speaking on the arrest of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran in a cheating case in Kerala, the BJP leader said, “Fight between Congress and CPIM in Kerala is clearly visible now after the arrest of Sudhakaran. On one hand, they speak of opposition unity and on the other hand, there is an open fight going on in states.
Anil Antony told ANI that all the events in the last few days in Kerala and events across India in many states are an example that the opposition unity is just on paper.

“It is just fragments of fantasy by a few parties which has nothing in common, in vision or ideology or direction. The only thing all these parties are trying to create in the name of unity is their common opposition towards Prime Minister Modi Ji”, BJP’s Anil Antony said.

He further said that it also shows the opposition’s contempt towards the mandate of the people of the country.

“It shows their contempt towards the mandate of the people of India. What these parties fail to realise and what they fail to remember at this point is that in 2014 and 2019, there is a central government that has been elected by the people of India through one of the largest mandates in history and here are these people without anything in common except for their hatred towards the PM. In another way they are also disrespecting the mandate of the public”, Antony added.

Antony asserted, “Now in Kerala these two parties, the Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM) which are among the 15 opposition parties who attended the meeting in Patna, whose leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury are together saying that they have to fight BJP. But in Kerala what we are witnessing is the actual reality of these two parties. There the Congress is saying that the CPIM government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is one of the most corrupt administrations in entire India.”

The BJP leader escalated his attack on the two parties and said that the CPIM-led government in Kerala is charging cases against the leader of the opposition and KPCC chief while their leaders in the Capital are claiming they are on the same page in the fight against BJP.

“The CPIM government in Kerala is charging cases and having an investigation against the Leader of the Opposition and the KPCC president in the state. The KPCC chief was arrested 2 days back and the LoP is facing vigilance charges against him. Then ironically the same people are coming here and in one stage they are sitting with Rahul Gandhi and then they are saying we are united in the fight against BJP”, Anil Antony said.

He further alleged that every one of the 15 members of the coalition is doing the same with each other like the events in Kerala and making a fool of the public.

“Rahul Gandhi himself is blaming the CPIM leadership by saying that they will not tolerate any kind of intimidation by the CPIM government in Kerala. So all this is just cacophony. Every one of the 15 members of the coalition across India are doing this to each other and then they think that they can fool the public”, he added.

He further said, “They can fool the people of this country by trying to create some fake unity against PM Modi. The public will stand with the Prime Minister in 2024 and we are absolutely sure that this is to happen especially when we see all this kind of hypocrisy that two of the main parties of the 15 doing right now.”

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s tweet on the KPCC chief’s arrest in Kerala, Anil Antony said, “This is exactly my point. This is BJP’s point, Rahul Gandhi himself is saying that we don’t fear political vendetta. Vendetta of whom is he talking about? The CPIM. The same CPIM whose general secretary Sitaram Yechury with whom he actually shared a stage in Patna in the fight against the BJP?”

Further responding to Sitaram Yechury’s remark that the case against the KPCC chief is not politically motivated and the rest all are misinterpretations of facts, Antony said, “In Kerala, BJP is fighting very hard on the ground to bring out the facts. Now that the CPIM and Congress have come to an under-the-table understanding at the central leadership. We want to ensure that whatever is the truth comes out and justice prevails.” (ANI)

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Modi on 2024 elections

Bhaukla Gaye Hain: Modi Fires Salvos At ‘Opposition Unity’ Front

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a jibe at the opposition meeting held on June 23 saying that they have become flustered because the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to win the 2024 elections.

“Wo baukhala gaye hain (They have become flustered). So, they have started to hold meetings… A few days ago a photo session was organised by them (Opposition) and if you see the photographs, you will realise that every person in the photo has their own history of scams, Every photo is a guarantee of corruption and scams. Everyone together is a guarantee of at least Rs 20 lakh crore corruption. at least Rs 20 lakh crore corruption. Congress alone has carried out scams worth lakhs of crores. The RJD, TMC, NCP all of them have a long list of scams,” PM Modi said while addressing party booth workers here.
PM’s remarks come in the wake of a mega Opposition meeting held on June 23 in Patna where leaders from over 15 Opposition parties participated to forge opposition unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

“There was bitter opposition of the BJP… be it 2014 or in 2019, in both the elections, there was not as much restlessness as is being seen today. Today, they prostrate in front of each other and there was a time that they used to abuse each other all the time. Their restlessness shows that the people of the country have made up their minds to bring back the BJP in the 2024 elections. Once again in 2024, the massive victory of the BJP is certain, that is why all the opposition parties are in a panic,” he added.

He further said that the opposition has only one guarantee, that of scams and that he will ensure action is taken against every scamster.

“These parties have experience only with scams, and they only have one guarantee, which is of scams. The country has to decide if it wants to accept this guarantee. And here is Modi’s guarantee and that is –to take action on every scammer,” PM Modi said.

Without naming Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, the PM said leaders of the opposition parties had headed to Patna to take lessons of being in jail from “experienced” people.

“You have heard, when a criminal returns to his village from jail, people come to him eagerly to know his experience of jail. Leaders of the opposition party also need that type of experience as they know that they are under scanner and for this, what better than Patna,” PM Modi further said.

The BJP has also come down heavily on the opposition meeting chaired by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Patna terming it a “photo session”.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 23 had said, “Today a photo session is underway in Patna. They (the opposition) want to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA. I want to tell them that PM Modi will form his government in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls with more than 300 seats,” Shah, who arrived in Jammu on a two-day visit today said. (ANI)

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We Aren’t The Ones Who Sit In AC Rooms And Issue Fatwas: Modi

By LokMarg

Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh assembly election to be held later this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) booth workers are its biggest power as they make sure to reach out to the people at the grassroots level in order to make the party the biggest in the country.

“BJP’s biggest power is its workers. They have made the party the largest in the country. I thank JP Nadda for organising this event today through which I am able to virtually address around 10 lakh booth workers of the BJP virtually. No such virtual programme has ever taken place in the history of any political party,” PM Modi said while interacting with BJP booth workers in Bhopal.
These workers have been selected from all the states through a process defined by the party president JP Nadda via the Namo App.

For 10 days, these workers will interact with boot-level BJP workers in election-bound states and share their experiences and best practices.

The exercise is being done to activate the party workers at the lower level five months before the upcoming assembly elections.

PM Modi further said that Madhya Pradesh played a significant role in making the BJP the biggest party in the world.

“We are not the workers who sit in the air-conditioned rooms and issue fatwas. We go to the people and remain determined round the clock,” Modi added.

Earlier in the day, PM flagged off five Vande Bharat Express trains from the Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh’s capital city Bhopal.

“I congratulate the people of Jharkhand, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Karnataka for this modern connectivity. I congratulate the people of Madhya Pradesh for getting two Vande Bharat Express trains today. The journey from Bhopal to Jabalpur will be faster and more comfortable now. Vande Bharat train will boost connectivity in the state,” PM Modi said.

Ahead of the flagging-off ceremony, the Prime Minister interacted with crew members of the train and some children onboard the Vande Bharat train at Rani Kamlapati railway station.

Five Vande Bharat Express trains which were flagged off by the PM include — Rani Kamalapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express; Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express; Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express; Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express; and Hatia-Patna Vande Bharat Express.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor Mangubhai C Patel, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishaw and Jyotiraditya Scindia were present at the event. (ANI)

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ICC World Cup 2023: India, Pak To Face-Off This October

By LokMarg

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will square off at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 this October at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The opening game of the World Cup is scheduled to place at the same venue on October 5 with a match between defending champions England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, the ICC announced on Tuesday.
The final will also be held at the same venue on November 19,

The first semi-final of the World Cup will be held on November 15 in Mumbai while the second semi-final will be played on November 16 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

India will open their campaign on October 8 against Australia at Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. They will be playing a total of eight matches in the league stage.

The much-awaited encounter between India and Pakistan will be the eighth meeting between the two sides at a men’s World Cup.

With their jinx broken in the T20 World Cup, Pakistan will be looking to emulate the same in the 50-over format on October 15.

India and Pakistan have faced each other seven times previously – in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

The only time the two sides did not meet since that first match in 1992 was in 2007, which was a disastrous campaign for both teams as they crashed out of the tournament in the opening round

India have won all of the previous seven encounters, a record they extended to the T20 World Cups as well until recently.

That streak was broken in 2021, only for India to reclaim bragging rights with a memorable victory in the 2022 edition with a dramatic chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on the back of an unforgettable knock from former India captain Virat Kohli.

The last time these teams met in the 50-over World Cup was in 2019 at Old Trafford with India posting a massive 336/5 on the back of a fantastic 113-ball 140 by India captain Rohit Sharma.

A smart bowling performance then helped restrict Pakistan to just 212/6 in a rain-marred match that India won by 89 runs (DLS method).

Even more memorable is perhaps the game in 2011, another India home World Cup, which resulted in a thrilling semi-final clash in Mohali. Sachin Tendulkar starred for the hosts with 85 and their bowlers put up a united front to bowl out Pakistan and gain a 29-run victory. (ANI)

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MP: Modi Flags Off 5 Vande Bharat Express Trains

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off five Vande Bharat Express trains from the Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh capital city Bhopal.

Ahead of the flagging-off ceremony, the Prime Minister interacted with crew members of the train and some children onboard the Vande Bharat train at Rani Kamlapati railway station.
Five Vande Bharat Express trains which were flagged off by the PM include — Rani Kamalapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express; Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express; Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express; Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express; and Hatia-Patna Vande Bharat Express.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor Mangubhai C Patel, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishaw and Jyotiraditya Scindia were present at the event.

The routes on which the semi-high speed trains would operate are- Rani Kamalapati (Bhopal)-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express; Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express; Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express; Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express; and Hatia-Patna Vande Bharat Express.

The Rani Kamalapati (Bhopal)-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express will connect Madhya Pradesh Mahakaushal region (Jabalpur) to the Central region (Bhopal). Madhya Pradesh’s second semi-high speed will operate between the two cities at the speed of 130 kmph. The train is expected to be faster by about thirty minutes as compared to the existing fastest train on the route.

Madhya Pradesh’s third semi-high speed train will operate between the state’s Malwa region (Indore), Bundelkhand region (Khajuraho) and Central Region (Bhopal). The train is expected to benefit the tourist sites like Mahakaleshwar, Mandu, Maheshwar, Khajuraho, Panna. The train is expected be about two hours and thirty minutes faster than the fastest existing train on the route.

The Mumbai- Madgaon (Goa) Vande Bharat Express- which is Goa’s first semi-high speed train, will operate between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Goa’s Madgaon station. The train will operate six days a week except on Friday. The train is expected to save the journey time by about an hour as compared to the existing trains on the route. The railway ministry had cancelled the launch of the Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat train after the Odisha tragedy.

The Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express in Karnataka will connect key cities like Dharwad, Hubballi and Davangere – with state capital Bengaluru. The train is expected to be faster by about thirty minutes as compared to the existing fastest train in the route. This will be second Vande Bharat train for Karnataka as the first one runs between Chennai, Bengaluru and Mysuru.

Hatia-Patna Vande Bharat Express would be the first Vande Bharat for Jharkhand and Bihar.

“Enhancing connectivity between Patna and Ranchi, the train will be a boon for tourists, students and businessmen. It will help save about one hour and twenty five minutes journey time, when compared with the current fastest train connecting the two places,” a statement said.

PM had written on Twitter wrote, “I will be in Bhopal tomorrow, 27th June to take part in two programmes. First, 5 Vande Bharat trains would be flagged off at a programme in Rani Kamalapati Railway Station. These trains will improve connectivity in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Bihar and Jharkhand.”

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that the first Vande Bharat Express launched in Goa today will improve faster connectivity of the State with Mumbai will boost tourism and trade.

“I am very grateful to PM Modi and Ashwini Vaishnaw for running the Vande Bharat train in the state. The PM will flag this virtually. This (Vande Bharat train) will definitely help in the faster connectivity of Goa with Mumbai which will boost tourism and trade,” Pramod Sawant said. (ANI)

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