This document summarizes Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 566, addressed to the Minister of Railways on July 23, 2025, concerning the connectivity of Thawe and Gopalganj stations in Gopalganj district to New Delhi. The question raises concerns that these stations lack direct train service pairs to Delhi, despite representations from State Governments, Central Government Ministries, elected officials, and consultative committees. The query also questions whether this lack of connectivity contributes to revenue loss for the railways due to increased bus traffic and whether the Railway Board has investigated this potential revenue loss. It further asks if the introduction of new trains or train stoppages at Thawe Junction to New Delhi has been disregarded despite justification in traffic, operational feasibility and resource availability.
The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, responded that the 05305/06 Chhapra-Anand Vihar T Special currently serves passengers traveling between Thawe/Gopalganj and Delhi. Additionally, the 05059/60 Kolkata-Lalkuan Special and the 05193/94 Chhapra-MCTM Udhampur Special provide connectivity to Kolkata and Jammu Tawi, respectively. Thawe is served by 6 Mail/Express and 22 Passenger services connecting it to Siwan, Patliputra, and Gorakhpur. Gopalganj is served by 4 Mail/Express and 4 Passenger services connecting it to Chhapra and Patliputra. Siwan, located 28 km from Thawe, offers good connectivity to Delhi. The response indicates that consideration of new train introductions and related actions is an ongoing process, contingent on operational feasibility and traffic justification.
Key Entities Referenced
Thawe Junction: A railway station in Gopalganj district, Bihar, India, that is the subject of the policy document regarding train connectivity to Delhi.
New Delhi: The capital city of India, and a key destination for proposed train services from Thawe Junction.
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for railway transport in India, and the source of the policy document.
Gopalganj district: A district in Bihar, India, where Thawe and Gopalganj stations are located.
Railway Board: The apex body of the Indian Railways, responsible for decisions regarding train services and railway infrastructure.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, responsible for answering the parliamentary question.
Chhapra-Anand Vihar T Special: A train service (05305/06) that currently caters to passengers traveling from Thawe-Gopalganj to Delhi.
Siwan: A city in Bihar, India, located 28 km from Thawe and well-connected to Delhi.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 566
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
PENDING PROPOSALS FOR TRAINS FROM THAWE TO NEW DELHI
566. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the stations like Gopalganj and Thawe
Junction Stations, both located in the Gopalganj district are not
connected to Delhi from pairs of train services passing through other
districts, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is a fact that the representations/requests both formal
and informal received from State Governments, Ministries of Central
Government, Elected Representatives, Consultative Committees by
Railways at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways,
Division office for introduction of trains from Thawe junction to New
Delhi have not been considered;
(c) if so, the reasons therefor and the action taken against the erring
officers of the Railway Board;
(d) whether due to this neglecting approaches of the Railway a large
number of buses ply from these areas causing revenue loss to
railways, if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Board has enquired the matter of the Thawe Junction
Stations revenue loss, if so, the details thereon and action taken
against erring officers;
(f) whether it is a fact that introduction of new trains and provisions of
stoppage of trains for Thawe Juction to New Delhi have not been
considered despite the traffic justification, operational feasibility and
resource availabilty, if so, the details thereof; and
(g) the details of pending proposals of the Thawe Junction?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)(a) to (g) At present, 05305/06 Chhapra-Anand Vihar (T) Special is
catering to the needs of passengers of Thawe/Gopalganj for travelling
to Delhi . Further, 05059/60 Kolkata-Lalkuan Special and 05193/94
Chhapra-MCTM Udhampur Special are also providing connectivity for
Kolkata and Jammu Tawi respectively.
06 Mail/Express and 22 Passenger services, presently serving Thawe
is providing connectivity for destinations like Siwan, Patliputra,
Gorakhpur etc. Likewise, 04 Mail/Express and 04 passenger serving
Gopalganj are providing connectivity for Chhapra, Patliputra etc..
Besides, Siwan located at a distance of 28 km from Thawe is very well
connected to Delhi.
Receipt of representations inter-alia for introduction of trains and
action thereon, subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification,
etc., is an on-going process.
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