PM Modi Launches India's First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train and Infrastructure Projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first fully air-conditioned Vande Bharat Sleeper train on January 17, 2026, connecting Howrah (Kolkata) and Guwahati (Kamakhya). The 16-coach train, operated by Northeast Frontier Railway, covers nearly 1,000 km in about 14 hours, reducing travel time by 2.5 hours. It offers modern amenities, enhanced safety features, and regional cuisine onboard. Modi also launched rail and road projects worth over Rs 3,250 crore in West Bengal and Assam, aiming to boost connectivity, economic growth, and tourism ahead of upcoming state elections. Commercial operations for the sleeper train will begin soon, with ticket bookings pending.