New Delhi: Varanasi has received three new railway services ahead of the Diwali and Chhath festivals, promising faster journeys and more affordable travel options for passengers. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in the presence of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated the New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper train, the Banaras–Prayagraj Rambag MEMU and the Banaras–Rajatalab MEMU service.
The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the introduction of the Vande Bharat Sleeper service, describing it as a significant addition to railway connectivity for Kashi.
How Will the New Services Benefit Passengers?
Adityanath said the journey between Varanasi and Delhi, which earlier took around 13 to 14 hours, would now be completed in approximately eight to nine hours through the Vande Bharat Sleeper service. He said the new train would reduce travel time while offering passengers greater comfort.
Referring to the proposed bullet train project, the Chief Minister also spoke about the vision of reducing the travel time between Delhi and Kashi to around three-and-a-half hours in the future.
Affordable MEMU Services for Daily Commuters
The two new MEMU services are expected to provide an economical travel option for regular passengers. According to the Chief Minister, a monthly journey arrangement between Banaras and Rajatalab would cost just ₹95, while the corresponding fare for travel between Banaras and Prayagraj would be ₹220.
He said students, lawyers, traders and daily commuters would benefit from the affordable services. Adityanath highlighted that passengers could access month-long rail travel at a cost comparable to routine small daily expenses.
Railway Infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh Undergoes Expansion
The Chief Minister said railway lines across Uttar Pradesh had been converted to broad gauge and electrified. He also referred to the replacement of unmanned railway crossings with overbridges and underpasses, along with the modernisation of 157 railway stations in the state.
Adityanath further claimed that Uttar Pradesh was now receiving 18 times more railway budget allocation than during previous governments.
Freight Corridor to Support Trade and Transportation
Highlighting the economic benefits of railway infrastructure, the Chief Minister said more than 1,000 kilometres of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor passed through Uttar Pradesh. He noted that the corridor had helped make freight transportation faster and more organised, benefiting traders and businesses.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi joined the programme virtually. Ministers Anil Rajbhar, Dayashankar Mishra ‘Dayalu’ and Ravindra Jaiswal, Hansraj Vishwakarma, Varanasi Mayor Ashok Tiwari, District Panchayat Chairperson Poonam Maurya and Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar were among those present, along with public representatives, officials and a large number of local residents.
