In a big step towards improving infrastructure and connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off four new Amrit Bharat trains from Motihari, Bihar, on Friday.
He also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various development projects worth ₹7,200 crore in Bihar, where elections are due soon.
The new Amrit Bharat trains will run on the following routes:
Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna) to New Delhi
Bapudham Motihari to Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal)
Darbhanga to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar)
Malda Town to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur
All these trains pass through Bihar, and two of them directly connect the state to Delhi.
For the launch, a special Amrit Bharat Express will leave Rajendra Nagar Terminal at 11:45 am on July 18 and reach New Delhi at 4:00 pm on July 19.
A return service will depart from New Delhi at 6:00 pm on July 19 and arrive at Rajendra Nagar Terminal at 11:45 pm the next day, according to PTI.
The regular service of the non-AC Patna–New Delhi Amrit Bharat Express (Train no. 22361/22362) will begin on July 31, as per Northern Railway.
Fare Details
As per IRCTC, the sleeper class fare between Patna and Delhi will be ₹560. This is slightly more than the ₹520 charged by existing trains on the same route.
The train will have 8 sleeper class coaches, 11 general coaches, 2 luggage-cum-brake vans, and 1 pantry car.
Several other railway projects were also announced:
Doubling of the Darbhanga–Thalwara and Samastipur–Rambhadrapur rail lines, part of the Darbhanga–Samastipur doubling project, costing over ₹580 crore. This will help run more trains and reduce delays.
Automatic signalling on the 114 km Bhatni–Chhapra Gramin rail section, aimed at smoother train operations.
Upgrade of the traction system in the Bhatni–Chhapra Gramin section to increase train speeds, improve energy use, and boost overall efficiency.
The Darbhanga–Narkatiaganj rail line doubling project, worth around ₹4,080 crore, will improve train frequency and strengthen connectivity between North Bihar and the rest of the country.
The Bihar Assembly elections are expected later this year, likely in October or November, though the Election Commission of India has not yet announced the official dates.
