In addition to the Banaras-Khajuraho route, Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated three other Vande Bharat Express trains that will run on the Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi, and Ernakulam-Bengaluru routes.
Lavlesh Rai, the Superintendent of Banaras Railway Station, mentioned that until now, there was no direct train service from Varanasi to Khajuraho.
Tourists previously had to travel to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction—previously known as Mughalsarai—around 20 kilometres from Varanasi or to Manikpur to catch a train to Khajuraho, he noted.
With the launch of this semi-high-speed Vande Bharat service, tourists can now reach Khajuraho directly in just six hours, thereby saving time and avoiding significant inconvenience, Rai added.
An official statement indicated that the Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat service will provide direct connectivity on this route, reducing travel time by about 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to the currently operating special trains.
This service links some of India’s most important religious and cultural destinations, including Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho.
This connection will not only enhance religious and cultural tourism but also offer pilgrims and tourists a rapid, modern, and comfortable journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho, the statement further added.
During the flag-off event, Varanasi Mayor Ashok Tiwari remarked that Prime Minister Modi has turned Varanasi into a significant tourist hub.
“Currently, tourists from all over the country are visiting Kashi. The Prime Minister is working diligently to connect Varanasi with various tourist destinations across the nation, making travel easier for visitors,” he expressed. “The people of Kashi are fortunate to have Modi as their MP and prime minister”.
Anish, a local resident, commented that Varanasi has greatly benefitted and gained prominence as a tourist destination under PM Narendra Modi’s representation.
“Vande Bharat symbolizes a new India. Its launch will further enhance tourism and trade,” he stated, adding that he plans to visit Khajuraho using the train shortly.
Residents were also thrilled about the Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express train.
Vishal Mehrotra, a businessman from Lucknow, expressed that the Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat will facilitate quicker travel between the two cities.
“Typically, individuals travelling from Saharanpur to Lucknow take the Delhi route. However, with the introduction of the Vande Bharat between these cities, travel time will be significantly reduced, benefiting both businesspeople and traders,” he noted.
Advocate Ankur Saxena, who is from Shahjahanpur and practices at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, remarked, “The introduction of the Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat will provide options for individuals like me, as it will allow for a relatively quicker trip to Lucknow. It will also enhance the travel speed for those coming from Bareilly to Lucknow and the other way around.” He expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and the state’s Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, who is also from Shahjahanpur.
The Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat is expected to cover the journey in about 7 hours and 45 minutes, thus saving almost one hour of travel time, according to an official statement.
This service will significantly benefit passengers from Lucknow, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, and Saharanpur, while also improving connectivity to Haridwar via Roorkee.
