Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express from Madgaon railway station via video conferencing from Bhopal.
The train will run between Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Madgaon station. It will cover the journey in approximately seven and half hours which will help save about one hour of journey time, when compared with the current fastest train connecting the two places.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the biggest revolution in the Railways is being done by PM Narendra Modi. "Never such revolution has taken place in the country if compared to non-BJP governments before 2014," he said.
"One can also compare the road, air, railway and water connectivity with present and past governments. Our government has made so much progress that I will require half an hour to tell you about it. We can see the changes taking place in these four areas in a tiny state like Goa," he said.
Sawant said that Vande Bharat Express will help entrepreneurs for their business activities in Maharashtra and Goa. "Railway is the real lifeline of our country wherein common people travel from one place to another," he said.
Union Minister for State for Tourism Shripad Naik said that this day is important in the developmental history of Goa. "Since 2014 progress of the nation has taken place. Around 18 Vande Bharat Express trains are running in the country, where many facilities are given to commuters," Naik said.
He said that the government is committed to completing the projects, which are pending. "By considering the needs of common people, our government has done the development," Naik said.
State Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said that this connectivity will help in the area of tourism. "Vande Bharat Express will help to connect Konkan and the coastal belt of Goa-Maharashtra," he said.
Vande Bharat Express was scheduled to start on June 3, on the Madgaon-Mumbai route, however the inauguration was cancelled due to the Odisha train tragedy.
According to officials, the state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express will improve the connectivity in the Mumbai-Goa route and provide the people of the region the means to travel with speed and comfort.
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 32 Tamil fishermen, five boats seized
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 32 fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Lankan waters.
Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi hails ISRO's century in rocket launches, urges people to dedicate a day for science
Addressing the 119th episode of his monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation, saying it has hit the century in space. Last month, the country witnessed the ISRO's 100th rocket launch.
Mizoram student stabbed to death in Kerala, batchmate arrested
A 22-year-old BTech student from Mizoram was stabbed to death near his college in Thiruvananthapuram. The deceased, Valentine, was a student at Rajadhani Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagaroor.
Italy PM slams Left's double standards, says when Trump, Meloni, Modi talk, they are called threat to democracy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused left-wing politicians of being "nervous" over former US President Donald Trump's victory, claiming that conservatives are unfairly labelled as a "threat to democracy" while leftist leaders are celebrated for similar global alliances.
NDRF intensifies rescue operation to save 8 trapped in Telangana tunnel
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on Sunday intensified rescue efforts to save eight persons trapped in an under-construction tunnel after a portion of its roof collapsed in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on February 22.
Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after 'humiliating' hostage handovers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the release of Palestinian prisoners would be delayed until Hamas ceases its "humiliating ceremonies" during the release of Israeli hostages under the ceasefire deal.
PM Modi on 3-day visit to MP, Bihar, Assam from today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Assam from February 23 to 25 to participate in several developmental projects and inaugurate business summits.
US senators call out China for 'weaponising' UN 1971 resolution, vow support to Taiwan
The United States Senators accused China of subverting United Nations Resolution 2758 in an attempt to isolate Taiwan. The senators proposed a resolution in the Senate reaffirming US support for Taiwan. The resolution opposes China's attempt to prevent Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations.