Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today virtually flagged off the Dohrighat – Aunrihar Passenger Train through video conferencing. The new train service will provide affordable, safe and comfortable connectivity to passengers of Mau and Ghazipur Districts.
The train will halt at Sadat, Jakhanian, Dullahapur, Mau, Indara, Kopaganj, Ghosi, Amila and Muradpur stations. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Vaishnaw stated that the train will be extended up to Varanasi soon.
Mr. Vaishnaw noted that the Indara-Dohrighat metre gauge line was built in 1904, but its gauge conversion had to wait until Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office. The Railway Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off train services on this newly converted line in December 2023.
The Minister outlined a series of major railway infrastructure projects progressing in Uttar Pradesh. He said that south of the Ganga, a major four-line corridor had been developed along the Prayagraj-Kanpur-Agra-Delhi route.
He added that a massive four-line railway corridor is being developed north of the Ganga, connecting Delhi via Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, Sitapur, Gonda and Gorakhpur towards Bihar and the Northeast.
Vaishnaw also informed that the old Malviya Bridge at Varanasi is ageing, and therefore, a new bridge is being constructed alongside it, carrying four railway lines on the lower deck and a six-lane highway above it. Mr Vaishnaw said these projects would completely transform Uttar Pradesh’s railway map and enable the operation of at least 500 new trains in the future.
The Union Minister said 157 Amrit Bharat stations are being developed in Uttar Pradesh, with work already completed at 28 stations.
Mr Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Modi has announced a Bullet Train Corridor for Uttar Pradesh in this year’s Budget, with work progressing rapidly. Sharing the proposed travel time in the corridor on various routes, including 58 minutes from Delhi to Agra, 2 hours 12 minutes from Delhi to Lucknow and three hours and thirty minutes from Delhi to Varanasi.
The Minister said the proposed bullet train network connecting Delhi – Lucknow – Varanasi – Patna – Siliguri would strengthen connectivity with the Ashta Lakshmi states of the Northeast and fulfil the vision of a Viksit Uttar Pradesh and Viksit Bharat.
He assured that the bullet train would remain affordable to the middle class and ordinary citizens and would serve as a strong foundation for a developed India.
The Railway Minister also informed that around 58 new train services have started in Uttar Pradesh after COVID, and 568 services have been extended. He noted that 40 Amrit Bharat Express services and 32 Vande Bharat services are currently operating in Uttar Pradesh.