New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the country's 17th and the state's first Vande Bharat Express train in Puri, Odisha today. This train will connect Puri to Howrah. Along with this, the PM laid the foundation stone and inaugurated railway projects worth Rs 8200 crore. It also includes the project of redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations, the foundation stone of which was laid by PM Modi. He joined this inauguration and foundation stone program through video conferencing from Delhi, while Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended physically.

Virtually addressing the inauguration and foundation stone laying program of various development projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, 'Today the people of Odisha and West Bengal are getting the gift of Vande Bharat train. The Vande Bharat train is becoming a symbol of both modern India and the aspirational Indian. Today, when Vande Bharat passes while traveling from one place to another, the speed and progress of India is visible in it. Today India is celebrating the nectar of its independence. This is the right time to further strengthen the unity of India. The greater the unity, the greater the collective potential of India. In this amritkal, Vande Bharat trains are also becoming the engine of development and are also taking forward the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

India maintains growth momentum even in tough global conditions
PM Modi said that in the past years, India has maintained its pace of development even in the most difficult global conditions. There is a big reason behind this that every state has participation in this development, the country is moving forward taking every state along. Today's new India is also making technology itself and is rapidly taking new facilities to every nook and corner of the country. He said that India has made this Vande Bharat train on its own. Vande Bharat Express will further strengthen the religious, cultural and spiritual connection between Howrah and Puri. The PM said, 'Today 17 Vande Bharat trains are running in the country; These are promoting both connectivity and the country's economy. Our Vande Bharat trains also now touch every corner of the country from north to south, from east to west.