In a boost to railway connectivity in Bihar, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, flagged off seven new trains on Monday. The launch includes three Amrit Bharat Express trains and four passenger services aimed at improving regional and inter-state travel.
With this addition, Bihar now has 26 Amrit Bharat Express services in operation out of 30 running across the country. The Muzaffarpur-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express becomes the first such service connecting Muzaffarpur with South India, while the Chhapra-Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat Express is now the sixth Amrit Bharat train linking Bihar with Delhi.
Speaking at the event via video conference, Vaishnaw said the new trains would not only enhance passenger convenience but also accelerate economic growth in Bihar by boosting tourism, trade, and employment. He noted that Bihar’s annual railway budget, which was around ₹1,000 crore before 2014, now stands at ₹10,000 crore, with projects worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore currently underway. “The pace of development shows that Bihar is on its way to becoming a golden state,” he said, adding that the entire railway network in Bihar has been electrified and 1,899 km of new track has been laid since 2014.
The Amrit Bharat Express, developed indigenously, represents Indian Railways’ modernization efforts, offering passengers a fast, safe, and comfortable travel experience. These trains are equipped with semi-automatic couplers, fire detection systems, sealed gangways, and talk-back units, introducing advanced technology even in non-AC coaches.
The newly flagged-off trains include three Amrit Bharat Express services – Darbhanga-Ajmer (Madar), Muzaffarpur-Hyderabad (Charlapalli), and Chhapra-Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal) – as well as four passenger trains connecting Patna-Buxar, Jhajha-Danapur, Nawada-Patna, and Patna-Islampur.
Vaishnaw also highlighted several key railway projects completed in Bihar, including the Patna Rail-cum-Road Bridge, Munger Rail-cum-Road Bridge, and the long-awaited Kosi Bridge, along with multiple new lines and gauge conversions. Several major projects, such as the Sakri-Hasanpur line, Khagaria-Kusheshwarsthan line, and the Vikramshila-Katareah Ganga Bridge, are currently under execution.
The Minister emphasized that these new trains will improve Bihar’s connectivity with North and South India, contributing to the state’s vision of “Viksit Bihar Se Viksit Bharat” (Developed India through a Developed Bihar).