India's First Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Begins Commercial Service

India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, connecting Howrah and Kamakhya, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17. The train, covering nearly 1,000 km overnight with 16 sleeper coaches, offers modern amenities and enhanced safety features. Ticket bookings opened on January 19 and sold out within hours, reflecting strong public demand. The service runs six days a week, excluding Wednesdays or Thursdays depending on direction, and stops at 13 stations en route, significantly improving connectivity between Eastern India and the Northeast.