Amrit Bharat Express approved to connect Pune with Varanasi
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Amrit Bharat Express approved to connect Pune with Varanasi

Pune is set to receive a major boost in rail connectivity with North India after the Ministry of Railways approved a new Amrit Bharat Express service between Hadapsar (Pune) and Banaras (Varanasi). The ministry has also cleared the conversion of the existing Pune–Jabalpur special train into a regular express service.

The decision was communicated through an official letter issued by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol on Monday, confirming the approval of the new services.

According to officials, the Amrit Bharat Express will originate from Hadapsar terminal, a move expected to ease congestion at Pune railway station. The new service is also aimed at offering more direct and faster travel options for passengers commuting between Pune and key destinations in North India.

Reacting to the announcement, Mohol said the demand for improved connectivity between Pune and northern states had been pending for several years. “The demand for better rail connectivity between Pune and North India had been pending for years, especially for senior citizens travelling to pilgrimage destinations. The approval of the Amrit Bharat Express and the regularisation of the Pune–Jabalpur train have fulfilled the long-awaited aspirations of lakhs of passengers,” he said.

In addition, the Pune–Jabalpur special train (02131/02132) will now run as a permanent service with new train numbers 20161/20162 and will be renamed the Pune–Jabalpur Express. Officials said the regularisation is expected to make advance booking easier throughout the year and reduce the higher fares generally associated with special trains, offering relief to travellers.

The announcement is expected to benefit passengers travelling for pilgrimage, work and family visits, while also strengthening Pune’s long-distance rail network.

Pune is set to receive a major boost in rail connectivity with North India after the Ministry of Railways approved a new Amrit Bharat Express service between Hadapsar (Pune) and Banaras (Varanasi). The ministry has also cleared the conversion of the existing Pune–Jabalpur special train into a regular express service.The decision was communicated through an official letter issued by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol on Monday, confirming the approval of the new services.According to officials, the Amrit Bharat Express will originate from Hadapsar terminal, a move expected to ease congestion at Pune railway station. The new service is also aimed at offering more direct and faster travel options for passengers commuting between Pune and key destinations in North India.Reacting to the announcement, Mohol said the demand for improved connectivity between Pune and northern states had been pending for several years. “The demand for better rail connectivity between Pune and North India had been pending for years, especially for senior citizens travelling to pilgrimage destinations. The approval of the Amrit Bharat Express and the regularisation of the Pune–Jabalpur train have fulfilled the long-awaited aspirations of lakhs of passengers,” he said.In addition, the Pune–Jabalpur special train (02131/02132) will now run as a permanent service with new train numbers 20161/20162 and will be renamed the Pune–Jabalpur Express. Officials said the regularisation is expected to make advance booking easier throughout the year and reduce the higher fares generally associated with special trains, offering relief to travellers.The announcement is expected to benefit passengers travelling for pilgrimage, work and family visits, while also strengthening Pune’s long-distance rail network.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

KONE Opens India's First Digital Experience Centre in Pune

KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has inaugurated its first Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in India, located in Pune. The facility aims to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and data-driven technologies can enhance customer experiences and improve building operations.The centre was inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE Corporation; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.Designed as an interactive customer environment, the facility demonstrates digital solutions cover..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines for Indian Industry

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version at the 17th CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai. The initiative aims to strengthen resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy practices across Indian manufacturing and process industries.The guidelines introduce a structured framework with circularity indices covering raw materials, consumables, packaging and other resource inputs. These indicators will help industries assess existing practices, identify opportunities to ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Global Electronics Association Launches IPC-1783-CO2E Standard

The Global Electronics Association has introduced IPC-1783-CO2E, a new international standard aimed at improving consistency, transparency and comparability in product carbon footprint reporting across the electronics manufacturing industry.The standard, titled International Standard for Data Collection and Reporting of CO2 Equivalent (CO2e) Emissions for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain, provides industry-specific guidance for collecting, estimating and reporting carbon emissions data.With increasing regulatory requirements and customer expectations, electronics manufacturers face c..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code