New Delhi: Thiruvananthapuram Parliament member of the congress Shashi Tharoor today, April 19, hailed the Central Government's announcement of a Vande Bharat train for Kerala and said that he is looking forward to attending the flagging off of the same by PM Narendra Modi.

On April 25, the Prime Minister will officially launch the Vande Bharat Express in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
The Congress leader responded to the Center's action by referencing a previous tweet he had sent on February 1 of the previous year, in which he had suggested operating a Vande Bharat train in Kerala.

"Bringing VandeBharat trains to Kerala could address Kerala CM's concern for speedy train travel to promote development, and alleviate Kerala's concerns about land acquisition and environmental impact. " Tharoor tweeted last year. The Congress MP said he was "delighted" that the Vande Bharat would run in Kerala and stressed that progress needed to go beyond politics.

I'm thinking back to my tweets from 14 months ago asking that Vande Bharat trains in Kerala. I am happy to see AshwiniVaishnaw did exactly that. Awaiting the 25th to witness @narendramodi flag off the first train from Thiruvananthapuram. Politics must not impede progress, he tweeted. The Vande Bharat train service for Kerala is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Vishukaineettam" (gift) this year, according to Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on April 14.

"The train will run from Kasaragod, Kerala's northernmost tipoff, to Trivandrum, the state's southernmost capital city. Therefore, the Vande Bharat will go 600 km in 8 hours, enabling Keralans to travel the entirety of their state in that time, he said.

An indigenously produced, semi-high-speed, self-propelled train set is called the Vande Bharat Express. Modern passenger amenities on board the train make for a speedier, more comfortable, and more convenient journey for passengers. 

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