Our non-biological Prime Minister has moved further in portraying himself as immortal. After renaming Ahmedabad Stadium to "Narendra Modi Stadium," now "Vande Metro" rebranded as "Namo Bharat Rapid Rail."

Ahead of its debut, the Indian Railways announced the renaming of the ‘Vande Metro’ service to ‘Namo Bharat Rapid Rail’ on Monday, September 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail besides several other Vande Bharat trains.  

"The ministry has decided to rename Vande Metro to Namo Bharat Rapid Rail," s news agency said, citing the Railway Ministry.

The inaugural journey will commence from Bhuj and reach Ahmedabad, covering 359 kilometres in just 5 hours and 45 minutes. The regular service for the passengers will launch on September 17, with a ticket price of Rs 455 for the entire journey, making the journey cost-effective for commuters. The train will run at a maximum speed of 110 kmph.

With its launch, the Indian Railways has redefined the concept of metro travel. Unlike traditional metros that operate between urban stations, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will cover inter-city destinations, bridging urban centres with surrounding areas. It caters to a broader travel range, unlike urban metro services.

Although many people claim that it resembles the Vande Bharat Express, the reality is that features more suburban metro trains as it comes with automatic sliding doors and engines at both ends. It will also be unreserved, allowing passengers to purchase the travel ticket just before its departure.