**Summary:**
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 577, addressed to the Minister of Railways on July 23, 2025, concerns the connectivity of train services between North Eastern India and Jharkhand. Specifically, it raises the issue that the Agartala-Deoghar Express (Train No. 15625/15626), while connecting Agartala and Deoghar, bypasses key railway stations such as Dhanbad, Madhupur, and Jamtara, despite increasing passenger traffic from these areas to the North Eastern States. The question also highlights the inconvenience caused by the discontinuation of the Jhajha-Dibrugarh rail service (Trains 15941/42), impacting passengers from Jhajha and surrounding areas traveling to NorthEast India.
The questions posed to the Minister of Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, inquire about: (a) awareness of the lack of connectivity to Dhanbad, Madhupur and Jamtara; (b) awareness of the inconvenience caused by the discontinuation of the Jhajha-Dibrugarh rail service; (c) a proposal to extend the Agartala-Deoghar Express to Dhanbad; (d) a proposal to increase the Agartala-Deoghar Express frequency from weekly to tri-weekly; and (e) concrete steps for a quick decision on these matters.
In response, the Minister confirms that the Agartala-Deoghar Express operates weekly via the Agartala-Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri-Khagaria-Munger-Bhagalpur-Banka-Deoghar sector. The response also notes that Kiul (approximately 50 km from Jhajha) is connected to Guwahati by three pairs of trains, and Dhanbad is connected to Guwahati by the Ranchi-Kamakhya Express (Trains 15661/62). The discontinuation of the Jhajha-Dibrugarh Express was attributed to timetable rationalization undertaken with the assistance of IIT-Bombay. Finally, the response states that extending train routes and increasing service frequency are ongoing processes, subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, and resource availability.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI DULU MAHATO: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about train services.
Agartala-Deoghar Express: A weekly train service connecting North Eastern India to Deoghar, Jharkhand.
Deoghar, Jharkhand: A city in Jharkhand, connected to North Eastern India by the Agartala-Deoghar Express.
Dhanbad: A major railway station not directly connected by the Agartala-Deoghar Express.
Jhajha-Dibrugarh Express: A discontinued rail service that previously connected areas to NorthEast India.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, who provided the answer to the question.
Guwahati, Assam: A city in Assam, connected to Kiul by train services and to Dhanbad by the Ranchi-Kamakhya Express.
IITBombay: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, which assisted with the rationalisation of the time table.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.577
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
BETTER CONNECTIVITY OF TRAIN SERVICES
†577. SHRI DULU MAHATO:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that Train No. 15625/26
Agartala-Deoghar Express connects North Eastern India to Deoghar in
Jharkhand but does not connect major railway stations like Dhanbad,
Madhupur and Jamtara even though the number of passenger going from
these areas to North Eastern States is increasing continuously and if so, the
details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware that due to discontinuation of Jhajha-
Dibrugarh rail service, passengers from these areas are facing
inconvenience in reaching North-East India and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to extend the Agartala-Deoghar
express route to Dhanbad in order to improve regional connectivity;
(d) whether the Government proposes to increase the service of this train
from weekly to tri-weekly and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to take any concrete steps for a
quick decision in this regard and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCATING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e) Presently, 15625/15626 Agartala-Deoghar Express is being
operated as a weekly service on the Agartala -Guwahati- New Jalpaiguri-
Khagaria- Munger- Bhagalpur-Banka- Deoghar sector. Besides, Kiul (around
50 km from Jhajha) is connected to Guwahati by 03 pairs of trains, while
Dhanbad is connected to Guwahati by the 15661/62 Ranchi-Kamakhya
Express.
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As a part of rationalisation of the time table undertaken with the assistance
of IIT-Bombay, the services of 15941/42 Jhajha-Dibrugarh Express have
been discontinued.
Besides, extension and increase in frequency of train services are on-going
processes on Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational
feasibility, resource availability, etc.
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