New Services to Enhance Pilgrimage Travel
The newly flagged-off services include the Kashi-Khajuraho Vande Bharat, the Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat, the Lucknow-Saharapur Vande Bharat, and the Anakkulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat . This expansion is seen as a strategic move to link major pilgrimage sites, facilitating easier travel for devotees and boosting local economies.
The Prime Minister emphasized that connecting India's heritage cities with modern rail infrastructure is a crucial step in intertwining the nation's culture, faith, and development journey. He highlighted that cities like Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Haridwar, and Kashi are not just spiritual centers but also catalysts for regional economic growth .
Infrastructure as an Engine of Economic Growth
The Prime Minister underscored the critical role of infrastructure development in national progress. "In all developed countries, a major reason for their economic growth has been their infrastructure," he stated, adding that projects like new railway lines, stations, and roads act as immediate triggers for the development of towns and villages.
The speech highlighted the transformative impact of improved connectivity, noting that when a railway station is built or a road is paved in a remote area, it enables farmers to transport their goods to markets, thereby creating new economic opportunities.
Spiritual Tourism Fuels Uttar Pradesh's Economy
The event shed light on the substantial economic benefits driven by spiritual tourism in Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister revealed that last year, 11 crore pilgrims visited Kashi for darshan at the Baba Vishwanath temple. Furthermore, since the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, over 6 crore devotees have visited Ramlala .
This massive influx of pilgrims has provided a multi-thousand-crore rupee boost to the state's economy, benefiting local hotels, businesses, transport companies, artisans, and boat operators. The Prime Minister noted that hundreds of youth in Banaras are now launching new ventures in transport and the iconic Banarasi saree trade, opening doors to prosperity in the region.
The development of robust infrastructure, including modern trains, is central to the government's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India). The Prime Minister described the Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat trains as the foundation for the next generation of Indian Railways, representing a comprehensive campaign to transform the network.
Reporting based on official announcement and event proceedings.
