PM Narendra Modi to flag off Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express today

PATNA: Patna Junction is decked up to receive Bihar's first Vande Bharat Express on its inaugural run from Ranchi on Tuesday. PM Narendra Modi will flag off the train through videoconferencing from Bhopal at 10.30am on Tuesday.
The PM will flag off four other Vande Bharat Express trains on the Bhopal-Jabalpur, Bhopal-Indore, Goa-Mumbai and Dharwad (Hubli)-Bengaluru routes on Tuesday.
According to the East Central Railway's chief public relations officer (CPRO) Birendra Kumar, the Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express (02439) will make its inaugural run from Ranchi leaving Ranchi at 10.30am. "It will reach BIT-Mesra at 10.50am, Barkakana (11.45am), Hazaribagh Town (12.45pm), Koderma (2.08pm), Gaya (3.40pm), Jehanabad (4.23pm) and Patna Junction (5.25pm) the same day," he said, adding that the total distance of 378 km will be covered in six hours.

About 60 % seats have been booked for the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat from Ranchi. "The train (22349/22350) will, however, follow its normal schedule from Wednesday leaving Patna Junction at 7am and reaching Gaya at 8.25am, Koderma (9.35am), Hazaribagh Town (10.33am), Barkakana (11.35am), BIT-Mesra (12.20pm) and Ranchi (1pm)," the CPRO said, adding that on its return journey, it will leave Ranchi at 4.15pm reaching Gaya at 8.45pm and Patna Junction at 10.05pm the same day.

Danapur ADRM Aadhar Raj said on Monday that all senior railway officials of Danapur division will be present at the station during the flagging off of the train from Ranchi as well as to receive it on its arrival.