Indian community groups in the UK have launched a ‘Modi Express’ bus for a month-long tour around iconic landmarks here to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the country next month.
The bus, which was launched on Sunday (October 11), made its first stop at Ealing Road, Wembley also known as ‘Little India’, followed by Trafalgar Square to celebrate Diwali.

Over 400 community organisations have registered as ‘welcome partners’ of an Olympics style reception planned for Modi at Wembley Stadium on November 13. Lord Dolar Popat, who inaugurated the bus during a traditional coconut-breaking ceremony said, “This bus launch is yet another example of the UK and India bringing people together for a positive cause.”

Britain’s longest-serving Indian-origin parliamentarian Keith Vaz encouraged people to join him on the ‘Modi Express’ bus from Leicester saying, “even if you’ve left your oyster cards at home, be sure to bring your ‘Modi cards’ to join the ‘Modi Express’ wherever you are.”

Over 60,000 people will attend the ‘UK Welcomes Modi’ reception and tickets are due to be distributed by Wembley Stadium in coming weeks. People from over 250 cities and towns in the UK have applied for an invitation. They have applied from as far north as Dundee and as far south as Plymouth.