PM Modi to inaugurate Vande Bharat Express and Khelo India University Games on 25 May

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the inaugural run of the Dehradun-Delhi Vande Bharat Express on 25 May. He will also open the Khelo India University Games 2022 through virtual ceremonies, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“With world class amenities, it will herald a new era of comfortable travel experience, especially for the tourists travelling to the state. The train has been indigenously built and is equipped with advanced safety features including the Kavach technology,” the PMO said.

The prime minister will also dedicate newly electrified rail line sections in Uttarakhand. “With this, the state will have its entire rail route 100% electrified. Trains run by electric traction on the electrified sections will result in increase in speed of trains and enhance haulage capacity,” it added.

PM Modi will also inaugurate the Khelo India University Games 2022 via a virtual ceremony on 25 May. The third edition of the Khelo India University Games will be held from May 25 to June 3, spanning various cities in Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, and Gautam Buddha Nagar.

According to the prime minister’s office, over 4750 athletes from more than 200 universities will participate in the Games, competing across 21 sports disciplines. This event not only encourages the spirit of competition but also aims to identify and nurture sporting talent at the grassroots level. The closing ceremony of the Games will take place in Varanasi on June 3.

“The mascot of the Games is named Jitu, which represents Swamp Deer (Barasingha) - the state animal of Uttar Pradesh,” it added.