Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) at Malda town railway station. He will also virtually flag off the Guwahati-Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper.
The fully air-conditioned Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to offer passengers an airline-like travel experience at economical fares. It will make long-distance journeys faster, safer, and more convenient. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train comprises 16 modern coaches with a total capacity of 823 passengers. Akashvani’s correspondent reports that the service will be especially beneficial for common passengers, students, professionals, migrant workers, traders and religious pilgrims.
With the introduction of the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat Express, long-distance train travel in India is set to become faster, safer and more comfortable for common passengers. The Howrah-Guwahati route is among the most significant rail corridors in the country, supporting the daily movement of lakhs of passengers.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper trains will offer a fast, modern and reliable travel option for passengers of West Bengal and Assam. The visits to major pilgrimage centres like Kalighat Temple and Kamakhya Devi Temple will become easier, safer and more convenient. The new Vande Bharat Sleeper on the Howrah-Guwahati route will significantly cut travel time compared to the current fastest service, the Saraighat Express.
The Saraighat Express takes around 17 hours to cover the distance between Howrah and Guwahati, and in comparison, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will complete the same journey in just 14 hours. The reduced travel time will give a boost to regional trade, tourism and employment, strengthening economic and cultural ties across regions.
Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone of four major railway projects in West Bengal. This includes the new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, next-generation freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed, and modernisation of Vande Bharat train maintenance facilities in the Jalpaiguri district.
These projects will strengthen passenger and freight operations, improve logistics efficiency in North Bengal, and generate employment opportunities in the region. PM Modi will further virtually flag off four New Amrit Bharat Express trains in Malda.
Later in the evening, the Prime Minister will participate in Bagurumba Dwhou 2026, a historic cultural event celebrating the rich heritage of the Bodo community in Guwahati, Assam. On this occasion, more than ten thousand artists from the Bodo community will perform the Bagurumba dance in a single, synchronised presentation.
