Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the expanding Vande Bharat network connecting India’s major pilgrimage destinations is strengthening the nation’s bond between culture, faith, and development.
Addressing a gathering at the Banaras railway station after flagging off four new Vande Bharat Express trains, Modi said pilgrimages have long been a symbol of India’s national consciousness. “In our tradition, pilgrimages are not merely visits to holy places but a sacred journey that connects the soul of India,” he said.
Highlighting the spiritual significance of sites like Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Haridwar, Chitrakoot, and Kurukshetra, the Prime Minister said the Vande Bharat trains are helping link these centres of faith while advancing the nation’s development goals. “This marks an important step in turning India’s heritage cities into symbols of progress,” he noted.
Modi also underlined the economic benefits of religious tourism, saying it has become a major contributor to Uttar Pradesh’s growth. “In the last 11 years, development initiatives have transformed spiritual tourism. Last year alone, 11 crore devotees visited Kashi, and over six crore people have visited Ram Lalla in Ayodhya since the temple’s inauguration. These visits have contributed thousands of crores to the state’s economy,” he said.
He added that the rise in pilgrim tourism has boosted livelihoods for hotel owners, traders, transport operators, local artists, and boatmen. “In Varanasi, many youth are now starting businesses — from transport services to Banarasi saree ventures — opening new avenues of prosperity for Uttar Pradesh and Kashi,” Modi said.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were present at the event.
The four newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express trains will run on the Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru routes. According to the government, these semi-high-speed trains will cut travel time, improve regional connectivity, promote tourism, and stimulate economic activity across India.
