Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday flagged off the Bhavnagar-Ayodhya Express along with two other express trains- Rewa-Pune (Hadapsar) Express and Jabalpur-Raipur Express-from Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Dr. Mohan Yadav and Vishnu Deo Sai, respectively, joined the event through video conferencing.
Speaking on the occasion, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the newly introduced trains are of immense importance to the region. He said, “The Bhavnagar-Ayodhya Express will connect culture and devotion, while also promoting trade and tourism for Bhavnagar.” Highlighting the significance of connectivity to industrial and tribal regions, he said, “Pune, a key industrial hub, will now be directly connected with Rewa, Jabalpur, Satna, and Maihar, bringing new opportunities to the tribal heartland.”
Referring to the transformational progress in Indian Railways, the Railway Minister said, “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Railways have undergone unprecedented development in the last 11 years. We have laid 34,000 kilometres of new railway tracks, averaging 12 km per day—something never seen in history.” He noted that over 1,300 railway stations are being redeveloped as part of the world’s largest station modernization drive. “In India, we are carrying out this work without halting services, which sets us apart from many other countries,” he added.
Vaishnaw also announced a new daily train between Porbandar and Rajkot. He said, “A coach maintenance facility at Ranavav station, the new Saradiya-Wansjaliya railway line, Bhadrakali Gate, and a new flyover in Porbandar city are in the pipeline.” He further shared that two new Gati Shakti cargo terminals and a new port terminal in Bhavnagar are also under development.
Updating on India’s bullet train project, he said, “The country’s first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be operational soon. Construction is progressing rapidly, and once launched, the journey will take just 2 hours and 7 minutes.”
He also spoke about the launch of the Amrit Bharat trains. “Nearly eight Amrit Bharat trains have started running. These trains provide facilities similar to the Vande Bharat Express but at much lower fares, making quality travel more accessible.”
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said the Indian Railways is playing a crucial role in shaping a developed India. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is progressing rapidly. A new India is emerging, and this transformation is clearly visible in the railway sector. With modernization, our citizens are getting better and timely services.”
Dr. Mandaviya said the new train to Ayodhya would especially benefit the people of Saurashtra. “This region, known for its saints and spiritual traditions, now has a direct connection to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. It is a blessed opportunity for the people here,” he said while expressing gratitude to the Railway Minister for the new service.
Minister of State Nimuben Bambhaniya welcomed the Railway Minister to Bhavnagar and thanked him for this new train service. She said, “This train is a valuable gift to Bhavnagar. It serves as a bridge between Bhavnagar’s energy and Ayodhya’s devotion. It will benefit not just Bhavnagar but also neighbouring districts.”