India’s first Vande Metro renamed Namo Bharat Rapid Rail

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Ahmedabad for his initial visit to Gujarat. During this visit, he will launch India’s first Vande Metro service connecting Bhuj and Ahmedabad, along with other Vande Bharat trains, on Monday.

Hours ahead of the inauguration, the Railway Ministry renamed the metro to Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, news agency PTI reported quoting a spokesperson. The service will be flagged off from the Bhuj railway station at 4:15 pm virtually, the report stated.

In an update on X (formerly Twitter), Western Railways said that the Vande Metro service is “envisioned to redefine intercity commuting in the country.” Described as a “leap forward in commuter comfort and a catalyst for economic growth in Kutch”, the Vande Metro promises to “drive job creation and boost local tourism.” Here’s all you need to know:

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When will the metro services commence?

The Vande Metro service between Ahmedabad and Bhuj will start on September 17, with the service from Bhuj to Ahmedabad launching on September 18.

As per Western Railways, the Ahmedabad-Bhuj Vande Metro will leave Ahmedabad daily at 17:30 (except Saturdays) and reach Bhuj at 23:10 the same day. Conversely, the Bhuj-Ahmedabad Vande Metro will depart from Bhuj at 05:05 daily (except Sundays) and arrive in Ahmedabad at 10:50 the same day.

The trains will stop at nine stations: Sabarmati, Chandlodiya, Viramgam, Dhrangadhra, Halvad, Samakhiali, Bhachau, Gandhidham, and Anjar in both directions. The total fare for the journey will be Rs 455, as reported by The Indian Express.

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Features of the Vande Metro

The Vande Metro train has “12 air-conditioned coaches with centrally controlled automatic sliding doors, modular interiors, continuous LED lighting, toilets with vacuum evacuation, route map indicators, panoramic windows, CCTV, phone charging facilities,” the Western Railways stated.

Highlighting its safety aspects, the Ministry said that Vande Metro is equipped with advanced safety systems like KAVACH for collision avoidance, automatic smoke/fire detection, and aerosol-based fire suppression, along with emergency lights.

Its advanced features enable it to cover 360-kilometer distance in 5 hours and 45 minutes at a speed of 110 kilometres per hour.

According to the Railway Ministry, the metro has a seating capacity of 1,150 passengers.

In terms of accessibility, according to the Ministry, the Metro has been designed with inclusivity features such as Divyangjan-friendly toilets, a fully sealed flexible gangway and meal service among others.