PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express from Chennai Central

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugarated Tamil Nadu's first Vande Bharat train service between Chennai - Coimbatore at Dr MGR Chennai Central Railway station here on Saturday. Chief Minister MK Stalin and Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi also took part in the inaugural function.

On Saturday, PM Modi took a chopper and landed at INS Adyar and reached the Chennai Central Railway station by road. He was given a gala reception by BJP functionaries. Besides the grand reception, a tight security cover was thrown across Central Chennai and the entire railway station was cordoned off for the common man.

Besides, passengers who had booked to travel in the maiden Vande Bharat were stopped for more than an hour and were allowed after thorough checking. Some senior citizens were also finding it difficult to enter the train, thanks to the five tier security in place.

Modi who traveled in a battery car also explored the Chennai Central station and the new train. He also stole the attention of young school students and interacted with a few IIT students invited by railways as special invites.

Coimbatore South constituency MLA Vanathi Sreenivasan travelled in the Vande Bharat train. "This is the first Vande Bharat service given for the state. I'm double glad of this train service, as an elected representative I express my gratitude and thanks to Prime Minister on behalf of coimbatore South constituency. This train service will strengthen the connectivity between Chennai and west Tamil Nadu. As a Tamil, I am proud that the Chennai based ICF had built this train," Vanathi told media.

"I like to travel in train and regularly follow all trains. I tried to travel in the Chennai - Bangalore Vande Bharat, but it failed and I am excited to travel in this high speed train. The pick up is good between stations and ticket price is reasonable," said, A Sathya moorthy a college student on board Vande Bharat.

"We wanted to travel as a group with friends and this experience is nice. The coaches are new, swanky and looks grand. The speed is also good," said, K Shree, a passenger.