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Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off New Train, Announces Varanasi Extension

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the Dohrighat-Aunrihar passenger train via video conferencing. The train will soon be extended to Varanasi, providing direct connectivity to the cultural hub. A new express train via the northern Ganga corridor was also announced to connect Purvanchal with Delhi. Vaishnaw highlighted that railway projects worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore are underway in Uttar Pradesh, transforming the state's rail map.

Key Points: New Train Flagged Off, Varanasi Extension Announced

  • Dohrighat-Aunrihar passenger train flagged off
  • Train to be extended to Varanasi soon
  • New express train via northern Ganga corridor announced
  • Rail budget for UP increased from Rs 1,109 cr to Rs 20,012 cr
2 min read

Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off Dohrighat-Aunrihar train, announces Varanasi extension ​

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off Dohrighat-Aunrihar train, announces Varanasi extension and new express via Ganga corridor.

"These projects would completely transform Uttar Pradesh's railway map - Ashwini Vaishnaw"

New Delhi, May 11

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday flagged off the Dohrighat-Aunrihar passenger train, which will be extended to Varanasi soon, in a significant step towards enhancing rail connectivity and passenger convenience in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh.​

Addressing the gathering via video conferencing, the minister also announced that, in response to a long-standing demand for better connectivity to Delhi from the Purvanchal region, a new express train will soon be introduced through the northern Ganga corridor.​

The train will connect Chhapra, Ballia, Mau, Azamgarh, Shahganj, Jaunpur, Sultanpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, and Anand Vihar.​

Vaishnaw said that extending the Dohrighat-Aunrihar passenger service to Varanasi will provide direct connectivity to the cultural and commercial hub, benefiting daily commuters, students, traders, and pilgrims, while further strengthening rail access across eastern Uttar Pradesh.​

The train will operate with an eight-coach rake, comprising passenger coaches designed to provide comfortable, convenient travel for daily commuters and other passengers on the route.​

Vaishnaw noted that the Indara-Dohrighat metre gauge line was built in 1904, more than 100 years ago, but its gauge conversion had to wait until PM Modi took office.​

He said that after 2014, many long-pending railway projects across the country were taken up, including gauge conversion, doubling, and several incomplete projects.​

The Indara-Dohrighat line was converted to broad gauge, bringing new rail facilities to eastern Uttar Pradesh.​

The minister highlighted that the railway budget allocation for Uttar Pradesh in 2014 stood at merely Rs 1,109 crore.​

After 2014, the allocation grew to approximately Rs 20,012 crore.​

He added that railway projects worth around Rs 1.2 lakh crore are currently underway across Uttar Pradesh, a scale of railway development unprecedented in the state's history.

Vaishnaw 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.​

Similarly, 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.​

The under-construction bridge is located near Namo Ghat over the Ganga.​

Vaishnaw said these projects would completely transform Uttar Pradesh's railway map and enable the operation of at least 500 new trains.​

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Swati Y
That's a massive leap in budget allocation - from Rs 1,109 crore to Rs 20,012 crore for UP railways. Numbers speak for themselves. But honestly, I hope the new Malviya Bridge at Varanasi doesn't take another decade to complete. The old bridge is really old and dangerous for local traffic. Also, 500 new trains sounds ambitious - let's see how many actually materialize. 😅
A
Ananya R
As a student who travels between Varanasi and Delhi frequently, this is a welcome move. The Dohrighat-Aunrihar extension to Varanasi will help so many daily commuters and pilgrims heading to Kashi. But I wish they'd also focus on cleanliness at stations and better security for women passengers on these new routes. Infrastructure alone isn't enough.
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Rajesh Q
Bade logon ka bada plan hai! But common passenger suffers daily - trains still get cancelled, platforms are overcrowded, and unreserved coaches are a nightmare. The four-line corridors sound good on paper but please also fix basic amenities like clean toilets and drinking water. A train is only as good as the journey experience. 🤞
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Vivek B
The Malviya Bridge replacement is crucial - that old structure is a heritage piece but not safe anymore. A new bridge with 4 railway lines and 6-lane highway? Now that's thinking big. Purvanchal really needs this kind of transformation. Just hope the execution matches the vision, unlike some other infrastructure projects that drag on for years. 🚄
S
Sarah B
It's good to

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