Vande Bharat equivalent Vande Metro to make travel easier between Lucknow and Delhi

Citizens commuting from Lucknow to Delhi will have it easy in the future with the brand-new high-speed Vande Metro, as per the announcement by Indian Railways. Running along the lines of nationwide-run Vande Bharat Express, Vande Metro will be a mini version of the same.

The recent Union Budget 2023 has cleared the way for the Lucknow-Delhi high-speed corridor in order to facilitate regular inter-city commute. Uttar Pradesh has received an outlay of ₹17,507 crores for various railway infrastructure and safety projects.

The concept of this metro facility is to connect two metro cities of the country and render a rapid shuttle-like experience to passengers. The project is underway, with the design expected to be completed this year, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.

"There are large habitations from where people would like to come to the big city for work or leisure, and go back to their home place. For that, we are coming up with a Vande Bharat equivalent 'Vande Metro'. This year, the design and production will be completed, and in the next financial year, FY 2024-25, a ramp-up of production of the train will be done," stated the minister.

A survey was conducted on Lucknow-Kanpur and Lucknow-Sitapur routes for the same. Survey on other routes will take place soon, authorities stated. Routes like Kanpur and Sitapur will be prioritised for thousands of commuters travel to and fro from Lucknow to the aforementioned places.

Expected to be run at a speed of 130 kmph, these trains will not only reduce travel time between two cities but also be equipped with modern amenities like bio-toilets, CCTV, GPS, and sliding doors.

The plan is to have three trains operating between Lucknow and Delhi, also taking stops in Bareilly and Moradabad.