Jharkhand’s first Vande Bharat Express between Ranchi and Patna commenced its trial run from Patna on Monday (12 June).
The train began its journey from Patna at 6.55 am and is expected to arrive in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, at 1 pm. The return journey will see the train depart from Ranchi at 2.20 pm and reach Patna by 8.25 pm, said Birendra Kumar, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of East Central Railway (ECR) zone in Hajipur.
The train will cross over tunnels and bridges on its way between Sidhwar (Ramgarh) and Sanki (Ranchi). It will make halts at Gaya and Barkakana stations, providing convenience to passengers.
On the 27km stretch between Sidhwar and Sanki, there are four tunnels, the longest of which is 1.7 km, while the other three are approximately 600 metres each.
The Vande Bharat train will be maintained by the Ranchi railway division at its depot in Hatia.
The context of Monday’s trial run was amid controversy. Before the trial run, protests took a violent turn when students pelted stones at the police. The situation led to the detainment of five students, including the student leader, Jairam Mahato.
Despite the disruptions caused by the protests, the trial run ultimately proved successful. With the new recruitment policy, it is likely that more employment opportunities will be available to locals, bringing growth and development to the Jharkhand state.
The railway authorities plan to increase the number of trial runs between Barkakana and Ranchi. To ensure the smooth operation of the route, several trial runs will be conducted frequently.
In December last year, the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) in Kolkata conducted a safety inspection and speed trial on the 27-km stretch between Sidhwar and Sanki. After a successful inspection, the CRS gave the green light to operationalise the new route between Koderma and Ranchi via Barkakana.
The government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign aims to introduce India’s first indigenous semi high speed train, Vande Bharat Express.
According to a press release by Press Information Bureau (PIB), the train can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph. Named ‘Vande Bharat’ this train is a significant step towards Indian self-sufficiency.
The Union Budget 2022-23 announced that 400 new-generation Vande Bharat Trains will be manufactured over the next three years. Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman heralded this initiative, which consolidates the government’s ‘Make in India’ goal.
The new Vande Bharat Express will present an iconic example of prime Indian engineering and will boost India’s transportation sector, as well as its economy, with its superior speed and technology.