Indian Railways Activates Direct UP-Maharashtra Rail Links as Amrit Bharat Fleet Expands

New Amrit Bharat Express trains will be flagged off on April 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the two weekly services. They will connect Banaras with Hadapsar in Pune. They will also connect Ayodhya with Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The trains are intended to improve direct rail links between Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. “The Banaras-Hadapsar (Pune) service will facilitate easier access to Kashi Vishwanath Dham, while the Ayodhya-Mumbai service will improve connectivity to the Shri Ram Mandir Teerth Kshetra, strengthening links between key religious destinations,” a Railway Ministry press note issued on Monday said.

In addition, the same note identified the expected passenger groups. The Ministry also said, “The trains are expected to particularly benefit daily passengers, migrant workers, and pilgrims travelling between Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, providing direct connectivity and eliminating the need to change trains.”

According to the Ministry, Amrit Bharat Express trains have been designed for common passengers. Comfort, convenience, and affordability are presented as central features. Also, the Ministry presented this as part of inclusive and accessible rail travel in India.

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Routes for the new Amrit Bharat Express trains

Meanwhile, the Banaras-Hadapsar service will run through several important stations before reaching Pune’s Hadapsar suburb. It will include Prayagraj, Jhansi, Bhopal, Manmad, and Kopargaon among the highlighted route points. Prayagraj is associated with the Triveni Sangam and the Kumbh Mela. Jhansi is described as the gateway to one of India’s most storied tourism circuits. Bhopal is the state administrative capital, with expanding IT and pharma activity. Manmad and Kopargaon together serve as the main rail gateway to Shirdi.

“The inaugural run of Banaras-Hadapsar (Pune) Amrit Bharat Express will start from Banaras in the evening and will terminate at Hadapsar (Pune) late at night on the following day, completing the journey in approximately 30 hours,” the Ministry said.

It further noted, “The train will make 18 stops, including Gyanpur Road, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Govindpuri, Orai, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi, Bina, Rani Kamlapati, Narmadapuram, Itarsi, Harda, Khandwa, Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Manmad, Kopargaon, Ahilyanagar, Daund, and Hadapsar.”

Ayodhya-Mumbai service and passenger focus

Separately, the Ministry described the Ayodhya-Mumbai service as direct and affordable. The route runs from Ayodhya to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. The Ministry described Mumbai LTT as Mumbai’s busiest long-distance terminal. It also called it an arrival point for millions of North Indian travellers. The Ministry said the service does more than connect two cities. It said the route reconnects people with their roots. It said it reduces the cost of staying in touch with home. The Ministry linked the service to one of India’s hardest-working migrant communities. It also said this was something the community had quietly deserved for a long time.

“The inaugural run of Ayodhya-Mumbai (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus) Amrit Bharat Express will start from Ayodhya Cantt in the evening and will terminate at Mumbai LTT late in the evening on the following day, completing the journey in approximately 28 hours,” the press note said.

It added, “The train will make 12 stops, including Ayodhya Cantt, Sultanpur, M B D Pratapgarh, Prayagraj Jn, Manikpur Jn, Satna, Jabalpur, Itarsi Jn, Bhusaval Jn, Jalgaon Jn, Nasik Road, Kalyan Jn, Thane, and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.”

Also, officials said the Railway Ministry will announce the scheduled operations of the two trains very soon after the inaugural runs.

Amrit Bharat train fares and existing services

At present, 30 Amrit Bharat trains provide 60 services, as reported by ETInfra. After the launch of the two new trains, that total will rise to 64.

For example, one pair runs daily between Rajendranagar in Patna and New Delhi. Those Amrit Bharat trains are numbered 22361 and 22362. The remaining services run weekly, bi-weekly, or tri-weekly.

Separately, Amrit Bharat train fares are approximately 15 to 17 per cent higher. The comparison is with regular Mail and Express trains. The Railway Ministry has justified the higher fares by citing the following features.

• higher speed;
• improved safety standards;
• better seat and berth aesthetics similar to Vande Bharat Sleeper;
• jerk-free travel;
• CCTV in all coaches;
• improved toilet designs;
• better ladder designs for easier access to berths.

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