Overview
- From Malda Town, the Prime Minister also virtually launched the Guwahati–Howrah return service, marking the sleeper variant’s operational debut.
- The 16-coach set seats about 823 passengers with 11 AC 3-tier, four AC 2-tier and one AC First Class coach, with indicative fares of roughly Rs 2,300, Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,600.
- Rail and road projects worth over ₹3,250 crore were dedicated or had foundations laid in West Bengal to bolster connectivity with the Northeast.
- Four new Amrit Bharat Express services and two LHB-coach express trains were flagged off to link North Bengal with southern and western employment hubs.
- The Railway Protection Force sought enhanced security for the launch citing possible stone-pelting risks, as the PM is set to perform the Kaziranga elevated corridor bhoomi pujan on January 18.