Patna (Bihar), June 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express connecting Patliputra in Bihar to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in regional rail connectivity. The semi-high-speed train will operate via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah, offering faster and more efficient travel between the two states.
The ceremonial flag-off took place at Patliputra Junction, with senior BJP leaders and local officials in attendance. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Prime Minister’s visit underscores his deep commitment to Bihar’s development. “Each time PM Modi visits Bihar, projects worth thousands of crores are either launched or inaugurated,” he noted.
The Prime Minister also launched and laid the foundation stone for multiple infrastructure projects worth over ₹6,000 crore. Among these are the Patna-Gorakhpur Expressway and Bihar’s largest sewage treatment plant under the Namami Gange programme, aimed at enhancing both urban infrastructure and environmental sustainability.
Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin described the new developments as a “major gift” for the state, saying, “These projects will dramatically improve connectivity and infrastructure. We’re grateful to the Prime Minister for his vision and commitment.”
The launch, however, drew criticism from opposition parties. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that such events are politically timed. “Inaugurations and visits happen conveniently close to elections. This will continue till November,” he claimed.
In response, Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the government’s record. “They’re calling today a ‘rain of lies’—but is the Vande Bharat train a lie? Are highways and STPs fiction? Development speaks for itself. The people can see the truth.”
Executive Director of Information and Publicity at the Railway Board, Dilip Kumar, highlighted the train’s significance. “This new Vande Bharat service is part of the modern transport trinity along with Namo Rapid Rail and Amrit Bharat Express. It will cover the Patliputra-Gorakhpur route in just seven hours, serving areas that previously lacked such advanced rail services.”
He added that the train fulfills a long-standing demand of the region’s residents and will play a key role in enhancing mobility and economic growth.
The Prime Minister’s visit comes ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, with infrastructure and connectivity expected to be major talking points in the campaign narrative.