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Tag: PM Modi

  • ‘B’ In BJP Stands for ‘Betrayal’, ‘J’ For ‘Jumla’: Kharge Hits Back At Modi Over PM’s Poll Promise Dig At Congress |

    PM Modi vs Kharge: The war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge continued on Friday after PM Modi took a swipe at the grand old party over its poll guarantees. 

    On Friday, the Congress launched a multi-pronged attack on the Prime Minister, with Kharge saying before pointing fingers, PM Modi should note that the “Modi Ki Guarantee” is a “cruel joke” on 140 crore Indians.

    The Congress national president took to X and launched a scathing attack on the saffron party. He stated that the ‘B’ in BJP stands for ‘betrayal’ while ‘J’ stands for ‘jumla’. In a post on X, Kharge said, “Narendra Modi ji, Lies, Deceit, Fakery, Loot and Publicity are the 5 adjectives which best describe your government! Your drum beating regarding a 100-day plan was a cheap PR stunt!”

    Besides Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal also slammed PM Modi, citing Congress’ track record in fulfilling its promises.

    “On May 16, 2024, you claimed that you took inputs from more than 20 lakh people for the roadmap for 2047. RTI filed in PMO declined to put forth details, exposing your LIES!” the Congress chief said in the post.

    Claiming to set the record straight, the senior Congress leader also highlighted the issue of the promise of “two crore jobs per year”.

    “Why is India’s unemployment rate at a 45-year high and why are stampedes witnessed wherever there are vacancies for a handful of jobs,” Kharge questioned.

    “Who is responsible for 70 paper leaks in 7 years and who snatched 5 lakh government jobs by selling stake in PSUs,” he further asked.

    Stating that ‘Bahut Hui Mehangai Ki Maar’, the grand old party chief asked, “Why have household savings plunged to a 50-year low? Why has the cost of a common thali increased by 52 per cent in just last year? TOP — Tomato prices have increased by 247 per cent, Potato by 180 per cent and Onion by 60 per cent.”

    “Who levied GST on essential food items such as Milk, Curd, Aata, Dal? Who is penalising the middle class through Long Term Capital Gains Tax by indulging in tax terrorism,” Kharge asked.

    Continuing his attack at the BJP, Kharge took a jibe at the saffron party over its promise of “Acche Din”

    “Rupee is at an all-time low. Is it in ICU or in Margdarshak Mandal? Your Govt has borrowed Rs 150 lakh+ crores in past 10 years, amounting to a debt of Rs 1.5 lakh on every Indian. MSMEs have been destroyed through DeMO + Flawed GST,” he said.

    “Clean chit to China post-Galwan, red carpet for Chinese investments and ruining relations with every neighbouring country,” Karge said in the post.

    Going all out against the PM Modi-led central government, he accused it of “snatching government jobs from SC, ST, OBC, and EWS communities by a 91 per cent increase in Casual/Contract hiring”.

    “JUMLA of doubling Income of Farmers by 2022. Refusing Legal Guarantee for MSP. GST on 35 Farm articles. Turning permanent recruitment to Armed Forces to a temporary one through Agnipath! Modi ji, before finger-pointing, please note that MODI KI GUARANTEE is a cruel joke on 140 crore Indians!,” the Congress chief said.

    Kharge’s remarks came after Modi on Friday said the Congress stands “badly exposed” in front of people for promising to them what the party knows it will never be able to deliver. Modi launched a fierce attack on the opposition party as he seized on Kharge’s comments that the Congress’ state units should make promises that are properly budgeted. He also said the developmental trajectory and fiscal health in the Congress-ruled states of Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana are going from bad to worse.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • ‘Watershed Moment’: PM Modi Lauds Tata-Airbus C-295 Complex Opening |

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the inauguration of the C-295 aircraft manufacturing complex in Vadodara as a landmark event for India’s defence and aerospace sector.  

    Modi and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL)-Airbus facility on Monday, which will produce C-295 military aircraft in India. The Tata-Airbus facility marks India’s first private sector final assembly line dedicated to military aircraft. 

    In a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the rapid establishment of the new manufacturing complex, describing the pace as ‘breathtaking’. Highlighting the timeline, he noted, “From foundation stone to operational facility in just two years!” Modi pointed to this swift execution as “a clear manifestation of a new work culture and the capabilities of the people of India.” 

    The Prime Minister sated that in 2022-23, India’s defence production reached Rs 1.27 lakh crore, while defence exports jumped from Rs 1,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 21,000 crore in 2024. He also noted that more than 12,300 products have been made locally in the past three years. Additionally, Defence Public Sector Undertakings have invested over Rs 7,500 crore in domestic suppliers. 

    “From a time when our forces faced critical equipment shortages to today’s era of self-reliance – this is a journey that every Indian can be proud of,” he said. 

    Modi further attributed the progress in India’s defence sector to the strengths and skills of ‘Yuva Shakti’ and efforts of government. He emphasised that the country is experiencing reduced reliance on imports, job creation in defence manufacturing, skill development for young people, and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the sector. 

    He also encouraged youth, startups, manufacturers, and innovators to explore opportunities in India’s defence sector. 

  • ‘Can’t Even Remotely…’: CJI Chandrachud Responds To PM Modi’s Ganesh Puja Visit Criticism |

    Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud scheduled to retire on November 10, addressed the recent controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit at CJI’s residence for Ganpati puja festivities. The Chief Justice said that there is ‘enough maturity’ among constitutional court judges and executive leaders to keep judicial matters completely out of any discussions. 

    The chief Justice described the meeting as a routine interaction. “There is enough maturity among judges of constitutional courts and the heads of the executive to firmly keep aside judicial matters out of the purview of any discussion,” he stated. 

    Speaking at the Loksatta lecture series in Mumbai on Sunday, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud clarified that interactions between the judiciary and the government were strictly professional, with no deals or agreements being made. He emphasized that these meetings focused only on addressing infrastructure needs of the courts, not on influencing judicial decisions. 

    He further said, “We know our duties in the democratic system of governance, and the political executive know theirs. No judge, least of them the Chief Justice of India or Chief Justices, can even remotely invite any threat, actual or perceived, to the independence of the judiciary.” 

    Last month, images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing a Ganesh Aarati alongside Chief Justice DY Chandrachud at the CJI’s residence surfaced online, sparking questions from the Opposition. The Opposition raised concerns over the Prime Minister’s informal presence at the residence of the country’s top judicial figure. 

    Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut called for Chief Justice Chandrachud to recuse himself from the ongoing legal battle between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Eknath Shinde-led faction. 

    Party leader Priyanka Chaturvedi echoed this concern, citing multiple adjournments in the Sena vs. Sena case as cause for scrutiny. 

    Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud will retire on November 10, with Justice Sanjiv Khanna set to take over as the Supreme Court’s next head. 

  • Nothing Stops Private Sector From Coming And Doing Business In India: Nirmala Sitharaman | Economy News

    Washington, DC: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that nothing prevents the private sector from conducting business in India, highlighting that numerous non-Indian private insurance companies are already operating in the country.

    During a fireside chat with CSIS President and CEO John J. Hamre on ‘India’s Economic Aspirations’—addressing governance reforms in multilateral development banks, global disruptions shaping policy choices, climate policy, financial services, and the Indian economy—Sitharaman recalled that the Indian government explicitly outlined in its 2021 budget four areas where the government will maintain a presence. However, it did not designate any sector where the private sector is restricted.

    Watch Live: Smt @nsitharaman in conversation with Dr. John J Hamre, CEO & President – Center for Strategic & International Studies (@CSIS) in Washington DC, USA.@PIB_India @FinMinIndia @IndianEmbassyUS https://t.co/kvGvP7c93o
    — Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) October 25, 2024

    When asked about prospects for private sector engagement, particularly in banking and insurance, Sitharaman responded, “Nothing stops them from coming and doing business. There are actually many private banks already in India, as well as private insurance companies, some of which are foreign-owned.”

    She added, “Private banks, including Standard Chartered—one of the largest—operate over 100 branches in India. So, there’s nothing to hinder them, and it’s not ambiguous. This is supported by policy, clearly outlined in the 2021 budget under Prime Minister Modi, where it was stated that the government would only be present in four sectors. The private sector is welcome in all others.”

    Sitharaman highlighted that India has indeed opened up all sectors, even sensitive ones like defense and space. “I am proud to say that India has long been entrepreneurial, with small, medium, and large enterprises, even during British colonial rule. But under socialism, restrictive policies like the ‘license-quota raj’ hindered business growth,” she noted. “Even during British rule, large Indian corporations managed to survive and thrive.”

    Reflecting on socialist policies, she remarked, “India has always been entrepreneurial, with diverse businesses. However, socialism imposed excessive control, limiting production and business growth. Prime Minister Modi’s government, on the other hand, removed red tape and rolled out the red carpet for businesses, replacing bureaucratic barriers with a business-friendly environment.”

    Sitharaman also stated that corruption has not been an issue in government since the Modi-led administration took office in 2014. “The previous ‘permit raj’ stifled business expansion, as profit-making corporations were viewed unfavorably. It wasn’t until Prime Minister Modi’s tenure that India started inviting both domestic and international businesses with a welcoming, pro-business stance,” she said. “The 2021 budget marked a turning point, allowing the term ‘privatization’ to be used without hesitation and emphasizing the role of private sector investment.”

    Criticizing prior governments’ policies, she commented that socialism, while intended to help the poor, often hindered business growth, benefiting only a few rent-seekers. “The 2021 budget boldly opened sectors for privatization, affirming the government’s role only in strategic areas, such as providing telecom services in border regions where private companies may not go.”

    In September, the Ministry of Finance introduced new Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules 2024 to simplify regulations on foreign investments. This initiative, aimed at facilitating ease of doing business, will replace the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules 2000. According to the ministry, the changes simplify the application processing for foreign exchange-related matters, furthering India’s commitment to a business-friendly regulatory environment.

  • Modi Is The ‘Change-Maker We Need,’ Says Former UK PM In Memoir | world news

    London: Former British prime minister Boris Johnson is all praise for “change-maker” Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a new memoir that reflects upon his eventful political career and recalls a “curious astral energy” that he felt on his very first meeting with the Indian leader.

    ‘Unleashed’, which hit the shelves in the UK this week, devotes a whole chapter to Britain’s relationship with India as “a relationship as good as it has ever been”. Repeatedly stressing the strong India-UK friendship in the context of the Indo-Pacific, the former prime minister credits himself for setting the course for a “proper free-trade deal” with India thanks to finding “exactly the partner and friend” needed with Modi.

    “For some reason, we went down to stand in the dark in the plaza by Tower Bridge, in front of a crowd of his supporters,” shares Johnson in the chapter entitled ‘Britain and India’, referencing his first meeting with Modi during a visit to his City Hall office by the river Thames when he was Mayor of London.

    “He raised my arm and chanted something or other in Hindi, and though I couldn’t follow it I felt his curious astral energy. I have enjoyed his company ever since – because I reckon he is the change-maker our relationship needs. With Modi, I felt sure, we could not only do a great free-trade deal but also build a long-term partnership, as friends and equals,” he writes.

    Johnson reveals how a “distinctly sniffy” UK Foreign Office had warned him off meeting the “Hindu nationalist” leader during an earlier mayoral trade delegation to India in 2012, a problem “soon dropped” to pave the way for a relationship that “hit an all-time high”.

    The 60-year-old politician-author asserts how much he loves India, being a “veteran” of many Indian weddings because his children with Sikh heritage ex-wife Marina Wheeler trace their roots to the country.

    While he writes with pride of a similar “Anglo-Indian syncretism” in politics with his diverse Cabinet as PM including many British Indians such as Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel, Johnson laments the slow-paced growth of bilateral trade due to unnecessary trade barriers that leave UK visitors “clinking in with duty-free booze” for Indians starved of Scotch whiskey at decent prices.

    The “tremendous success” of his visit to India as PM in January 2022 he recalls as a much-needed “morale boost” and “balm for the soul” away from an increasingly belligerent domestic politics that would eventually end in his unceremonious exit from 10 Downing Street just a few months later.

    He claims he had also wanted to use the visit to make a “gentle point to Narendra” on the issue of relations with Russia at a “global inflection point” with its conflict with Ukraine.

    He writes: “I knew all the history and the sensitivities, the reasons for India’s post-war non-alignment with the West, the seemingly unbreakable relationship with Moscow. I understand the Indian dependence – like China’s – on Russian hydrocarbons.

    “But I wondered if it was not time for a modulation, a rethink… As I was to put it to the Indians, Russian missiles were turning out to be less accurate, statistically, than my first serve at tennis. Did they really want to keep Russia as their main supplier of military hardware?”

    It is in this context that in another section of the book, where he showers the late Queen Elizabeth II with effusive praise for her deep personal knowledge of history and history-makers, he references his efforts to get India to take a “tougher line” with Russians.

    “She remembered something the former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had told her in the 1950s. ‘He told me that India will always side with Russia and that some things will never change. They just are. I cite that as an illustration of her amazing ability to reassure and to contextualise,” he shares, with reference to his customary weekly audiences with the late monarch as prime minister.

    Johnson goes on to credit himself with injecting a broader vision for the India-UK partnership to go beyond trade and climate change and educational partnerships and embark on a whole program of military and technological collaboration.

    “Overcoming the qualms of the MoD (Ministry of Defence), who are always worried about India’s closeness to Russia, we agreed to work together on all kinds of military technology, from submarines to helicopters to marine propulsion units,” he proudly declares.

    With ‘Unleashed’, Johnson seems to be keen to stress a lack of bitterness over his undignified removal as PM in the wake of the partygate scandal of Covid law-breaking parties but is clear that it was Rishi Sunak, his eventual successor at 10 Downing. Street, who precipitated the problems by resigning as chancellor from his Cabinet in June 2022.

    “It was worse than a crime, I thought, it was a mistake – both for Rishi and for the party, never mind the country. So it proved,” he writes, alluding to the recent disastrous general election result for the Tories.

    “I don’t blame Rishi for prematurely wanting to be PM; in fact I don’t blame any of them, really, for trying to turf me out. It’s just what Tory MPs do…It goes without saying that if we had all stuck together I have no doubt that we would have gone on to win in 2024, and a lot more of my friends would now have their seats,” he claims.

  • ‘Guarantee Of Development Has Overpowered Lies: PM Modi After Big Victory In Haryana |

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed party workers in Delhi on Tuesday following a third consecutive victory in Haryana. PM Modi slammed Congress and said that the guarantee of development has overpowered the knot of lies. He stressed that this is the first time a government has been formed in Haryana after completing two consecutive terms of five years.

    He said, “The victory in Haryana is the result of the hard work of the party workers, JP Nadda, CM Nayab Singh Saini. Today, the guarantee of development has overpowered the knot of lies. The people of Haryana have created history. Haryana was constituted in 1966. 13 elections have been held in Haryana so far, out of which in 10 elections, the people of Haryana have changed the government but this time what the people of Haryana have done never happened before. For the first time, a govt has been formed in Haryana after completing 2 terms of 5 years…”

    Reacting to the polls in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years, he stated that based on the vote share percentage, the BJP has emerged as the largest party in the region.

    “Peaceful elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir, votes were counted and results were declared and this is the victory of the Indian Constitution and democracy. The people of Jammu and Kashmir gave the mandate to the NC alliance, I congratulate them too. If we look at the vote share percentage, BJP has emerged as the biggest party in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

    Earlier, PM Modi shared a post on X, assuring the people that the party would leave no stone unturned in fulfilling their aspirations. “I salute the people of Haryana for giving a clear majority to the Bharatiya Janata Party once again. This is the victory of the politics of development and good governance. I assure the people here that we will leave no stone unturned to fulfil their aspirations,” the post read. 

  • PM Modi Slams JMM-Cong-RJD Alliance In Jharkhand, Calls Them ‘Hindrance To Development’ |

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling alliance of Jharkhand, including JMM, Congress, and RJD, and said that this alliance is the biggest hindrance in the development of the state. He further said that JMM and Congress are busy carrying out a marathon of scams in Jharkhand.

    “Now JMM has also been coloured by Congress and RJD. This is not the same old JMM. Today JMM has been taken over by the Congress ecosystem. Today JMM is haunted by the ghost of Congress—the language changed, the character changed, and now they are trying to change the soul of Jharkhand. JMM and Congress are busy conducting a marathon of scams in Jharkhand,” PM Modi said.

    The Prime Minister was addressing a Parivartan Mahasabha in Hazaribagh. Continuing his attack at the ruling alliance, he said that when the central government is working day and night for the development of Jharkhand, the state government (the Hemant Soren-led government) is trying to derail the development of the state.

    “The central government is working day and night for the development of Jharkhand, whereas, on the other hand, the state government (Hemant Soren-led government) is trying to derail the development of the state. Today everyone in the state knows that Congress JMM and RJD’s alliance is the biggest hindrance in the development of the state. Jharkhand will only grow and develop when the present government loses. Jharkhand will only grow when there is change in the state. Therefore, the Parivartan Yatra is underway in the state,” he said.

    “I have heard that now, when he is about to leave, he has increased both the speed and scale of corruption. Thousands of transfers have taken place in Jharkhand in the last two weeks. Transfer-posting industry… this is a very big industry. JMM has made crores of rupees on the pretext of this. But now this game is not going to last long… soon the government will change in Jharkhand and every penny of this loot will be accounted for,” he further stated.

    PM Modi lashed out at the grand old party and RJD and said that back before 2001, a party like RJD had made Jharkhand its place of loot and Congress was an equal shareholder with RJD. He further accused the Congress party of suppressing the demands of forming Jharkhand. He said that it was former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who fulfilled the dreams and created Jharkhand state with peace and consensus.

    “BJP is the party that, along with all of you, saw the dream of Jharkhand state and also fulfilled it. As soon as Atal Ji came to power, he created Jharkhand state with peace and consensus. We wanted the development of Jharkhand; we wanted to fulfill the dreams of the tribal society here, but in fulfilling these, we had to fight with parties like RJD. A party like RJD had made Jharkhand its place of loot. Water, forest, and land were openly looted. They had made this area a safe house for criminals and mafias, and who was supporting RJD from Delhi?—Congress Party. Congress was an equal shareholder with RJD. They used to say that Jharkhand wouldn’t be made, and the Congress party had assured to suppress the demands of Jharkhand,” the Prime Minister said.

    Jharkhand is likely to go to polls for its 81-member legislative assembly by December 2024, as the current government’s tenure is set to end in January 2025. The Election Commission is yet to announce the election schedule. In the 2020 assembly election, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the Bharatiya Janta Party bagged 25 and the Congress won 16.

    (With ANI Inputs)

  • Govt Approves Rs 24,475 Crore Subsidy On P&K Fertilisers For 2024-25 Rabi Season |

    New Delhi: The government on Wednesday approved Rs 24,474.53 crore subsidy on phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the rabi season of 2024-25 to ensure supply of crop nutrients to farmers at affordable rates.

    The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for rabi season 2024 (from October 2024 to March 2025) on P&K fertilizers.

    “The tentative budgetary requirement for rabi season 2024 would be approximately Rs 24,475.53 crore,” an official statement said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X stated: “This step will also reduce the cost of cultivation for farmers”.

    “To ensure continuous supply of fertilizers to our farmer brothers and sisters at affordable rates, we have approved the rates of nutrient-based subsidy for the Rabi season of 2024,” Modi said.

    Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda in a post on X said that this important decision will ensure the availability of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized and reasonable prices, besides providing incentive for increasing Rabi crop production.

    The government is making available 28 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/importers. The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is governed by the NBS scheme with effect from April 1, 2010.

    “In view of the recent trends in the international prices of fertilizers & inputs i.E. Urea, DAP, MOP and sulphur, government has decided to approve the NBS rates for Rabi 2024 on P&K fertilizers,” the statement said.

    The subsidy would be provided to the fertilizer companies as per approved and notified rates of N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus) and K (potash) so that fertilizers are made available to farmers at affordable prices, it added.

  • Quad Summit: PM Modi To Visit US Between Sept 21-23; Check Full Itinerary |

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the United States from September 21 to 23, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday. His trip will include key meetings, addressing the Indian diaspora, and participation in the Quad summit as well as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Here’s a breakdown of his itinerary.

    September 21: Quad Leaders’ Summit 

    The central highlight of PM Modi’s visit will be his participation in the Quad leaders’ summit on September 21, taking place in Wilmington, Delaware. This summit will be hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, marking the first time Biden has hosted foreign leaders in his hometown as president. The significance of this gathering is amplified as it is likely to be one of Biden’s last major international engagements before the U.S. elects a new president, with India set to host the next Quad summit in 2025.

    The summit will bring together the heads of the four key Quad nations: Japan, Australia, India, and the United States. The discussions will focus on reviewing the progress made over the past year and shaping the agenda to support the development goals of Indo-Pacific countries. The Quad’s influence in the region and its role in promoting stability and cooperation will be key topics of conversation.

     September 22: ‘Modi & US Progress Together’ Event in New York 

    On September 22, PM Modi will travel to New York to address a major gathering of the Indian diaspora at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The event, titled “Modi & US Progress Together,” has garnered significant interest, with over 24,000 members of the Indian community expected to attend. The event aims to celebrate the growing ties between India and the U.S., focusing on the collaborative progress made in various sectors.

    During his time in New York, PM Modi will also meet with CEOs from leading U.S. companies. These discussions will emphasize fostering deeper collaboration in key areas like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology. This interaction aligns with India’s push toward technological advancement and innovation, further strengthening India-U.S. economic partnerships.

    September 23: Summit of the Future’ at UNGA 

    On September 23, Prime Minister Modi will deliver an address at the “Summit of the Future” during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The theme for this year’s summit is “Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow,” reflecting a focus on global cooperation to address future challenges.

    World leaders from across the globe are expected to attend the summit, making it a significant diplomatic event. On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several global leaders to discuss various issues of mutual interest, further enhancing India’s position on the international stage.

  • Vande Metro Renamed, To Be flagged Off Today By PM Modi : Check Route, Cost, Schedule |

    Hours before the flagging off ceremony of the Bhuj-Ahmedabad Vande Metro, the Railway Ministry renamed it to Namo Bharat Rapid Rail on Monday, a ministry spokesperson said. The metro service will be launched from the Bhuj railway station at 4:15 p.m. virtually by Prime Minister Modi, who will be present in Ahmedabad. 


    The Rapid Rail, designed to improve intercity connectivity, is set to traverse a 359 km route between Bhuj and Ahmedabad in 5 hours and 45 minutes, with scheduled stops at nine stations along the way. 



    The regular service will be made available for the public from September 17 Ahmedabad. 


    The journey is expected to cost Rs 455 for the complete route. 


    The Railway Ministry has announced that the Vande Metro will be renamed Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, according to a spokesperson. 



    Unlike other metro trains that cover shorter routes, Namo Bharat will link central Ahmedabad with nearby cities, the ministry stated. 


    The Rapid Rail, equipped with 12 coaches and seating for 1,150 passengers, boasts several modern features. According to officials, it includes ergonomically designed seats, fully air-conditioned cabins, and modular interiors, making it a more advanced option compared to other metro trains. 


    “The train offers faster journeys between mid-distance cities. Its rapid acceleration and deceleration contribute to efficient travel while driving cabs at both ends eliminates turnaround time,” it added.