RAIPUR: Vande Bharat Express is a gift to Chhattisgarh by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, giving the state a recognition in the Railway map of the country, said BJP State president and MP Arun Sao on Sunday.

Boarding the train at Rajnandgaon, Sao said to the media that he is travelling to Bilaspur, the destination on its maiden run.

He said that using the indigenous design and technology the train has been manufactured in the country. It is the model of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ where no technology transfer has taken place. It is one of the most modern trains with all the facilities and one of the highest speed trains. Even the announcements are being made in Chhattisgarhi.

He said, earlier Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee paved the way for formation of Chhattisgarh as a state. Now, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state’s development is going at a fast pace. The Vande Bharat Express train is also a step taken for modernisation of Railways within the state.

Apart from BJP Members of Parliament, former Chief Minister Raman Singh and other leaders travelled in the train during its maiden trip from Nagpur to Bilaspur.

BJP leaders were present at various stations to flag off the train at Rajnandgaon, Durg, Raipur and to receive it at Bilaspur.