This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Railways' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1817, posed on July 30, 2025, regarding the Amrit Bharat Express (train numbers 15557/15558) running between Anand Vihar and Darbhanga. The question specifically inquired about a request from a Member of Parliament to: (1) run the Amrit Bharat Express daily on the route Anand Vihar to Darbhanga via Ayodhya, Basti, Khalilabad, Gorakhpur, Narkatiaganj, and Sitamarhi; (2) change the departure time from Darbhanga to 8:00 am instead of 3:00 pm; and (3) add AC third and AC second class coaches. The question also asked about instructions to run a Duronto Express weekly on the same route.
The Minister of Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that the Darbhanga-New Delhi sector is currently served by four pairs of train services, including the 15557/15558 Anand Vihar-Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express, which was introduced on January 1, 2024. The Amrit Bharat trains are described as fully non-AC modern trains with features such as semi-permanent couplers, horizontal sliding windows, foldable snack tables, and mobile holders.
The response also notes that the Railways receives numerous representations from various sources regarding train services. While a centralized compendium of these requests is not maintained, they are addressed according to established procedures, and action is taken as deemed feasible and justified. The addition of coaches, increase in frequency, and changes to train timetables are ongoing processes, contingent upon traffic justification, operational feasibility, and resource availability.
Key Entities Referenced
LOK SABHA: The Lower House of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
SHRI LAXMIKANT PAPPU NISHAD: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question.
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS: The government ministry responsible for railways.
Amrit Bharat Express: A type of train service on Indian Railways featuring non-AC modern trains.
Anand Vihar: A railway station located in Delhi.
Darbhanga: A city in Bihar, India; also a major railway station.
Ayodhya: A city in Uttar Pradesh, India, and a railway station along the proposed route.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1817
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
AMRIT BHARAT EXPRESS FROM ANAND VIHAR TO DARBHANGA
†1817. SHRI LAXMIKANT PAPPU NISHAD:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received a letter from a Member of
Parliament to run train number 15557/15558 Amrit Bharat Express
from Anand Vihar to Darbhanga via Ayodhya, Basti, Khalilabad,
Gorakhpur, Narkatiaganj, Sitamarhi daily and to change the departure
time from Darbhanga to 8.00 am instead of 3.00 pm and to add AC third
and AC second class coaches, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Department has received any instructions from the
Government to run Duronto Express weekly from Anand Vihar to
Darbhanga via Ayodhya, Basti, Khalilabad, Gorakhpur, Narkatiaganj
and Sitamarhi; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (c) Presently, Darbhanga - New Delhi sector is being served by
04 pairs of train services including 15557/15558 Anand Vihar (T) -
Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express, which has been introduced w.e.f
01.01.2024. These Amrit Bharat trains are fully non-AC modern trains
and have advanced features like Semi-Permanent couplers for jerk free
travel, horizontal sliding windows, foldable snack tables and bottle
holders, mobile holders etc.
- - -2/--2-
Representations/requests, both formal and informal, are received from
State Governments, Ministries of Central Government, Elected
Representatives, Consultative Committees etc. by the Railways at
various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Divisional
office etc. As receipt of such representations/requests is a continuous
and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such
representations/requests is not maintained. However, the
representation/request etc. are dealt as per laid down
procedure/guidelines and action as found feasible and justified is
taken from time to time. Besides, addition of coaches, increase in
frequency and change in Time Table of train services are an on-going
processes on Indian Railways, subject to traffic justification,
operational feasibility, availability of resources, etc.
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