Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains, two express trains and a passenger train from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu on March 11, in a major boost to railway connectivity in southern India. Another passenger train service will also be flagged off from Ernakulam in Kerala.
The new services are expected to benefit passengers across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Jharkhand, improving long-distance connectivity and regional mobility.
Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express
One of the key services being launched is the Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express, which will provide the first direct rail link between Coimbatore and Dhanbad in Jharkhand.
The train will originate from Podanur Junction and pass through major railway hubs such as Salem, Vijayawada, Jharsuguda, Ranchi and Bokaro before reaching Dhanbad. The weekly service is expected to benefit thousands of migrant workers travelling between Tamil Nadu’s textile and manufacturing hubs and eastern India’s coal and steel belt.
Nagercoil–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express
The Prime Minister will also flag off the Nagercoil–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, linking Nagercoil and the southern coastal region of Kanyakumari with Hyderabad through the Charlapalli terminal in Telangana.
The service will pass through more than 20 districts across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, offering a direct and affordable rail connection for students, workers and travellers between the southern coast and the Deccan region.
New express and passenger trains
Two new express services – Rameswaram–Mangaluru Express and Tirunelveli-Mangaluru Express – will provide improved connectivity along the western coastal corridor linking Rameswaram, Tirunelveli and Mangaluru.
A new Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur-Karaikkudi passenger train will enhance rail connectivity in the Cauvery Delta region, benefiting districts such as Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Sivaganga.
Another passenger service between Palakkad and Pollachi will improve cross-border connectivity between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, benefiting daily commuters, students and traders.
Infrastructure projects in Kerala
During the event, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate three redeveloped railway stations – Shoranur Junction, Kuttippuram Railway Station and Changanassery Railway Station – developed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of about ₹52 crore.
In addition, the 65-km electrification of the Shoranur-Nilambur railway line in Malappuram district will be dedicated to the nation. The project, completed at a cost of around ₹90 crore, is expected to reduce travel time, lower emissions and enable smoother rail operations in the region.
Expanding the Amrit Bharat Express network
The Amrit Bharat Express, built at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai under the Make in India initiative, is designed as an affordable long-distance train with modern features and push-pull locomotive technology enabling speeds of up to 130 km per hour.
With the launch of these two new trains, the total number of Amrit Bharat Express services across India will increase from 54 to 58, further expanding the network aimed at improving long-distance connectivity for millions of passengers.
