Vande Bharat Express: PM Modi in Hyderabad on 8 April

Hyderabad: The second Vande Bharat Express for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will be launched on 8 April between Secunderabad-Tirupati. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Hyderabad on April 8 to inaugurate the Express, and lay the foundation stone for a slew of infrastructure projects.

The launch before the summer vacation will likely be an advantage for those travelling to Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala.

Union Minister of Tourism G Kishan Reddy issued a statement on his visit. He stated that preparations are being made for the inauguration programme to be held at Secunderabad Railway Station on that day.

While most trains between Hyderabad-Tirupati take more than 11 hours, Vande Bharat is to take 8.5-hour journey. The train will halt at Nalgonda, Guntur, Ongole, and Nellore stations. Details related to the fare and timings are yet to be officially disclosed.

First Vande Bharat

The first Vande Bharat train, between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the eve of Sankranti.

Here are its features:

· AC train with 16 coaches with a capacity of 1,128 seats.

· The train has an intelligent braking system that enables better acceleration and deacceleration.

· Vande Bharat trains can reach a speed of 0-100 km per hour in 52 seconds, with a top-up speed of 180 kmph.

· All coaches are equipped with automatic doors, GPS-based audio-visual passenger information systems, and divyanga-friendly facilities.

· Hotspot Wi-Fi on board for entertainment purposes.

· Executive class has rotating chairs.

· Bio-vacuum model toilets.

· Pantry facility will serve meals and beverages.

PM promises 75 Vande Bharat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during 75 weeks of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, has promised 75 Vande Bharat trains that will connect every corner of the country. The first Vande Bharat train was inaugurated in 2019, and 10 Vande Bharat trains are currently in operation.

SCR on stone pelting incidents

Ever since the launch of Vande Bharat, there have been nine stone pelting incidents on the trains over SCR’s jurisdiction in Kazipet–Khammam, Kazipet–Bhongir, and Eluru–Rajahmundry, since January. These incidents have led to damage of public property and rescheduling of the trains.

A few days ago, South Central Railway appealed to the public not to indulge in anti-social activities such as stone pelting on trains, which has caused serious injuries to passengers and damaged railway property.

Stone pelting on trains is punishable under Railway Protection Force (RPF) Act, and stringent action will be taken against the perpetrators under Section 153 of Railways Act, which is punishable with imprisonment up to five years.

So far, the Railway Protection Force have registered several cases, and 39 offenders have been arrested and sent to jail. Some of the stone pelting incidents also involved children aged between 6–17 years.

Inputs from PTI