Railways Conducting Study to Launch Affordable ‘Amrit Bharat Express’ from Pune to Danapur, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur, and Puri

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Pune, 14th January 2025: While the two ‘Vande Bharat Express’ trains running from Pune have garnered a positive response from passengers, their high ticket costs remain out of reach for many. Against this backdrop, the railway administration is making efforts to introduce the ‘Amrit Bharat Express’—a more affordable alternative for common passengers. Trial runs are being conducted to launch this service on routes connecting four northern cities to Pune.

As part of the ‘Amrit Bharat Yojana,’ expansion work is underway at Pune Railway Station and Hadapsar Railway Station. The proposed routes for the ‘Amrit Bharat Express’ include:
Pune to Danapur
Pune to Chhapra
Hadapsar to Muzaffarpur
Hadapsar to Puri
“Considering the large number of passengers traveling from Pune to North India, a detailed study is being conducted to finalize these routes,” said Ram Paul Barpagga, Public Relations Officer, Pune Railway Division.

The Ministry of Railways introduced the first ‘Amrit Bharat Express’ in July 2023, running between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Modeled after the ‘Vande Bharat Express,’ these trains are not air-conditioned and offer lower ticket prices, making them popular among passengers seeking cost-effective and time-efficient travel options.

Plans are now being developed to extend the ‘Amrit Bharat Express’ to routes connecting Pune to northern destinations. This initiative is expected to make travel easier and more affordable for passengers commuting to and from these regions.

The Pune Railway Division has initiated redevelopment work for 20 stations under the ‘Amrit Bharat Yojana.’ Additionally, production of new coaches modeled on the design of ‘Vande Bharat Express’ is nearing completion. Speaking in Pune on Saturday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav revealed that much of this work is in its final stages.

Currently, the ‘Vande Bharat Express’ operates on two routes from Pune to Hubli and Kolhapur, with ticket prices set at Rs 1,160 for lower-class and Rs 2,005 for higher-class coaches for the Pune-Kolhapur journey. In contrast, the ‘Amrit Bharat Express’ will offer fares comparable to standard sleeper-class charges, making it accessible to a wider range of passengers, according to railway officials.

Under the redevelopment initiative, Pune’s railway stations are undergoing upgrades to improve passenger amenities. The new coaches for the ‘Amrit Bharat Express’ will also be equipped with features inspired by the ‘Vande Bharat Express,’ ensuring comfort and convenience.