Rajasthan gets three major gifts boosting rail connectivity in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Jalore
Jaipur, May 22
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday inaugurated and launched a series of major railway projects for western Rajasthan during his visit to Jodhpur, giving a significant boost to rail connectivity, passenger amenities and tourism in the region.
The announcements included the expansion of the Jodhpur-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, extension of a superfast train Sabarmati-Jodhpur Superfast Express to Jaisalmer and the launch of the new Bhuj-Delhi Express service from Jalore.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was also present during the programme.
The biggest highlight of the event was the expansion of the Jodhpur-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express from eight railway coaches to 20, significantly increasing passenger capacity from 530 to 1,440 seats.
Railway officials said the move is expected to provide major relief from long waiting lists on the busy Delhi route.
The upgraded train composition now includes 16 coaches with 78 seats each, two coaches with 44 seats, and two coaches with 52 seats.
The Union Railway Minister also inaugurated a modern Coach Care Complex at Jaisalmer Railway Station through video conferencing.
The new facility will provide advanced train cleaning and maintenance services directly in Jaisalmer, improving operational efficiency and supporting tourism in the desert city.
During the event, the extension of the Sabarmati-Jodhpur Superfast Express up to Jaisalmer was also announced and flagged off, strengthening direct rail connectivity between Gujarat and western Rajasthan.
The Railway Ministry also approved the development of a mega coaching terminal at Bhagat Ki Kothi Railway Station at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore.
Phase-II of the country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Maintenance Depot will also be developed there, along with a state-of-the-art railway training centre.
Union Minister Vaishnaw additionally announced that the maximum permissible speed on the Jodhpur-Luni-Marwar Junction rail section would be increased to 130 kmph.
Later on Friday, Ashwini Vaishnaw travelled to Jalore, where he flagged off the new Bhuj-Delhi Express.
A large number of public representatives and railway officials attended the event, including Rajya Sabha MP Rajendra Gehlot, MLAs Atul Bhansali, Devendra Joshi and Pabbaram Bishnoi, along with senior North Western Railway officials.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Increasing Vande Bharat from 8 to 20 coaches is great, but what about the smaller stations? Many rural areas still lack basic rail connectivity. Hope this is just the beginning of a larger plan.
Jalore getting a direct Delhi connection is massive! My village is near Jalore and we always had to change trains. This will save hours of travel. Kudos to the Railways! 🚄
The 400 crore coaching terminal at Bhagat Ki Kothi sounds impressive. But I hope they also focus on cleanliness and safety in existing stations. Trains are great, but we need better facilities too.
Speed increase to 130 kmph on Jodhpur-Luni-Marwar section! That's excellent for freight movement too. Rajasthan's rail network has been neglected for decades. Good to see investment flowing now.
Coach Care Complex in Jaisalmer will be a blessing for tourism. Last time I went there, the train maintenance was poor. This will definitely improve the experience for travelers. Well done! 🌵
All these projects are welcome, but we need better connectivity to eastern Rajasthan too - places like Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur. Hope the government doesn't forget other districts
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