Vande Bharat Express To Start From Tripura Soon

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the Vande Bharat Express will commence operations from Tripura in the coming days after he flagged off the Agartala–Karimganj MEMU service at Agartala Railway Station. He recalled the rail history of the state, noting that a metre-gauge service first arrived in 1964 and that broad gauge reached Agartala in 2008 following national projects and later upgrades under the Act East policy. The event was described as a milestone for regional connectivity and the MEMU was presented as the first electric passenger train to originate from Tripura.\n\nSaha said he has urged the Union Railway Minister to extend a double-line up to Sabroom and reported progress on the Jirania to Bodhjangnagar Industrial City section, a 14-kilometre project with an estimated cost of Rs 5.6 billion (bn). He added that Rs 4.2 million (mn) has been allocated so far and that a final location survey has been approved for that alignment. He also indicated that about 271 kilometres of railway across Tripura, from Churaibari, are slated for electrification by 2026.\n\nOfficials indicated that the new MEMU will operate up to Karimganj and that the line now reaches Sabroom at the state border, improving last-mile access. The 12-coach service is capable of carrying 3,600 passengers and is fitted with a GPS system, CCTV surveillance and a high-quality braking system to enhance passenger safety. Authorities contend that electrification and double tracking will permit a greater number of trains and reduce passenger congestion.\n\nThe government has pressed for additional express links to Jammu, Puri and Gaya and has sought enhanced service quality for Tripura residents. Local ministers, a Rajya Sabha member, railway divisional officials and transport department representatives attended the inauguration and endorsed further infrastructure upgrades. The developments were framed as part of a broader effort to strengthen rail connectivity and economic links in the North East.