Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday flagged off the inaugural Jaisalmer-Delhi (Shakur Basti) rail service from Jaisalmer. The train has been named the Swarn Nagari Express, reflecting local public sentiment.
The new service will connect key Rajasthan cities – including Ramdevra, Jodhpur, Makrana, Jaipur, and Alwar – to the national capital, improving access to medical and educational facilities and boosting regional tourism and economic activity.
Vaishnaw said that the Indian Railways is “establishing new milestones every day” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that major railway development works worth around ₹55,000 crore are currently underway in Rajasthan.
He said that the annual railway budget allocation for the state, which was around ₹680 crore before 2014, has now risen to nearly ₹10,000 crore. Projects to expand the railway network in border areas – including a proposed new line from Anupgarh to Khajuwala, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, and up to Bhabhar – are progressing, he added. These lines will aid both the public and strategic operations of the armed forces.
The Minister also announced a second entry gate for Jaisalmer station and directed officials to speed up construction of the new coaching depot to enable additional train services from the city. He said the redevelopment of Jaisalmer station has been completed at a cost of ₹140 crore, and that work on 85 stations across Rajasthan – worth about ₹4,000 crore – is underway.
With strengthened infrastructure, Rajasthan now operates six pairs of Vande Bharat trains and one pair of Amrit Bharat trains, along with several other services. Eight new trains, including the Swarn Nagari Express, have been introduced in the past six months. Vaishnaw also instructed railway authorities to prioritise track renewal between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
Leaders including MP Ummeda Ram Beniwal, former Union Minister Kailash Choudhary, and MLA Chhotu Singh expressed gratitude to the Railway Minister for the new service and ongoing development works.
Railways Review Preparedness for Cyclone Ditwah
In view of Cyclone Ditwah approaching the Tamil Nadu coast, Vaishnaw reviewed preparedness with Southern Railway officials to minimise service disruptions. He directed the activation of helplines, passenger-assistance desks, and War Rooms at divisional, zonal, and Railway Board levels to ensure public safety and real-time monitoring. Coordination with civil authorities and proactive communication with passengers has also been mandated.