The New Year is expected to bring faster and easier journeys for the people of West Bengal as Eastern India's first Vande Bharat Express reached Kolkata on Sunday. 

The train, to be run from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri, is likely to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30. The PM is to visit Kolkata for a meeting of the National Ganga Council that day. 

PM Modi is also likely to inaugurate the Joka-Taratala stretch of the Joka-BBD Bagh metro corridor virtually from Howrah station.  

(With inputs from agencies)