PM flags off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train from West Bengal’s Malda

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (January 17, 2026) flagged off the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town station in north Bengal.

He also virtually flagged off the return Guwahati–Howrah Vande Bharat sleeper train from Malda.

Developed to meet the growing transportation needs of modern India, the fully AC Vande Bharat sleeper train would offer passengers an “airline-like travel experience at economical fares”, a statement issued by the PMO stated.

The interiors of the Vande Bharat sleeper train are seen ahead of its inauguration.

The train will make long-distance journeys faster, safer, and more convenient, it said.

“By significantly reducing travel time by around 2.5 hours on the Howrah–Guwahati route, the train will also give a major boost to religious travel and tourism,” the statement added.

Later at a public programme in Malda, the PM is scheduled to dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects, worth ₹3,250 crore, aimed at strengthening connectivity and accelerating development in Bengal and the Northeast

On a two-day visit to eastern India, PM Modi is scheduled to criss-cross poll-bound West Bengal and Assam, blending high-voltage political messaging with a clutch of infrastructure launches as the countdown to the 2026 Assembly elections enters its decisive phase.