Madhya Pradesh has moved to strengthen rail connectivity in advance of Simhastha 2028, as Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated new stoppages and flagged off services at the newly developed Nishatpura Railway Station in Bhopal. The station now provides stoppages for two long-distance trains and adds a fourth major railway station to the city’s network. The state government presented the development as part of preparations to handle large pilgrim numbers and to reduce pressure on existing terminals. Nishatpura station was developed at a cost of Rs 140 million (Rs 140 mn) and is expected to shorten journeys for passengers travelling between New Delhi, Ujjain and Indore by enabling direct boarding without travelling to Bhopal Main Station. The new stoppages include the Dr Ambedkar Nagar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Malwa Express and the Veraval–Jabalpur Express, while the Malwa Express was also flagged off from the facility. Officials said the additional capacity will improve operational efficiency and passenger amenities in the surrounding area. The Chief Minister said Indian Railways has undertaken wide expansion and modernisation in the state over the past 12 years, citing the introduction of modern trains and 100 per cent railway electrification. He stated that rail budget allocation for Madhya Pradesh has risen from Rs 6.32 billion (Rs 6.32 bn) during 2009–2014 to Rs 152.88 billion (Rs 152.88 bn) for 2026–27, which he described as a 24-fold increase. Projects worth Rs 1.18 trillion (Rs 1.18 tn) are reported to be under implementation across the state and modern railway coaches are planned to be manufactured near Bhopal. The expansion was also framed as a boost for trade, agriculture and freight movement. Since 2014 around 2,800 kilometres of new lines have been laid and construction pace rose from four kilometres per day to 34 kilometres per day. Bhopal now has four major stations. The upgrades are intended to ease congestion during the large religious congregation expected to draw nearly 400 million devotees.