PM Narendra Modi Begins Bengal–Assam Visit, Flags Off India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the country's first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Malda in West Bengal on January 17, 2026. This train will run from Howrah to Guwahati (Kamakhya) and will connect Eastern India to the Northeast with fast and comfortable rail service. There has been a demand for better night travel on this route for a long time, which this new train is now going to fulfill.

Why so much discussion about the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train?

Till now Vande Bharat trains were running only with reclining seats. The arrival of the sleeper version will provide great relief to passengers traveling long distances at night. The train will have modern coaches, comfortable berths, low noise, better balance and new safety technology. Railways believes that this will not only make the Kolkata-Guwahati journey faster but will also make it more comfortable.

Which projects will start in Malda?

The Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of rail and road projects worth about Rs 3,250 crore in Malda. These include a new rail line from Balurghat to Hili, modern freight hub at New Jalpaiguri, the upgrade of Siliguri loco shed, the modernization of maintenance center of Vande Bharat trains at Jalpaiguri and electrification of rail lines from Cooch Behar to Bamanhat and Boxirhat.

Which new trains will depart virtually?

On this occasion, four Amrit Bharat Express trains will be flagged off virtually. These trains will run from New Jalpaiguri to Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli, and from Alipurduar to Bengaluru and Mumbai (Panvel). This will further improve rail connectivity between North, South and Northeast India.

What is the significance of the Bodo program in Guwahati?

In the evening, the Prime Minister will attend the “Bagurumba Dwo 2026” event at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. In this, more than 10,000 artists of the Bodo community will together present the traditional Bagurumba dance. This dance reflects the harmony between nature, flowers, and human life and is considered the hallmark of Bodo culture.

What new gift will Assam get on January 18?

The next day the Prime Minister will perform the bhoomi pujan of the Rs 6,950 crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor project. Also, Guwahati-Rohtak and Dibrugarh-Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) Amrit Bharat Express trains will be flagged off. This is expected to make travel between Northeast and North India easier.