**Executive Summary**
On May 11, 2026, Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually flagged off the daily Dohrighat–Mau–Aunrihar passenger train to enhance connectivity in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. The Minister announced the future extension of this service to Varanasi and the upcoming introduction of a new express train connecting Chhapra to Delhi. These initiatives are supported by a ₹1.2 lakh crore investment in state railway infrastructure, including gauge conversions, station redevelopments, and a planned Bullet Train corridor.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**New Train Services and Connectivity**
* Launched a daily 8-coach passenger service between Dohrighat and Aunrihar, featuring halts at Sadat, Jakhanian, Dullahapur, Mau, Indara, Kopaganj, Ghosi, Amila, and Muradpur.
* Announced the extension of the Dohrighat–Aunrihar service to Varanasi to benefit students, pilgrims, and traders.
* Confirmed a new express train service will soon connect Chhapra to Anand Vihar (Delhi) via the northern Ganga corridor, passing through Mau, Azamgarh, Lucknow, and Kanpur.
* Highlighted the operation of 40 Amrit Bharat Express and 32 Vande Bharat services currently serving Uttar Pradesh.
**Infrastructure Development**
* Completed the gauge conversion of the historic Indara–Dohrighat line from metre gauge to broad gauge.
* Increased the annual railway budget for Uttar Pradesh from ₹1,109 crore in 2014 to approximately ₹20,012 crore.
* Progressing on major projects including the Aunrihar–Varanasi 3rd line, various doubling works (e.g., Chopan–Chunar, Katra–Ayodhya), and new lines (e.g., Sahjanwa–Dohrighat).
* Constructing a new double-deck bridge near Namo Ghat (Varanasi) to replace the ageing Malviya Bridge, featuring four railway lines and a six-lane highway.
**Modernization and Future Projects**
* Developing 157 Amrit Bharat stations in the state, with work finished at 28 stations and ongoing at Mau, Ghazipur City, and Dildarnagar.
* Commenced work on a Bullet Train corridor designed to connect Delhi to Varanasi in 3 hours and 33 minutes, and Lucknow to Ayodhya in 35 minutes.
* Ordered the expedited construction of three new railway underpasses at locations 14C, 25C, and 27C.
**Impact Analysis**
**Daily Commuters, Students, and Traders**
**Impact**
Residents of the Purvanchal region gain affordable and direct access to cultural and commercial hubs like Varanasi and Delhi, supporting education and local commerce.
**Action Required**
Monitor official railway schedules for the start of the Varanasi extension and the new Chhapra–Delhi express service.
**Railway Officials and Personnel**
**Impact**
Staff are responsible for managing a massive increase in project scale, including the operation of over 500 potential new trains enabled by current infrastructure works.
**Action Required**
Execute the construction of underpasses at locations 14C, 25C, and 27C in "record time" as directed by the Minister.
**Tourism and Religious Sectors**
**Impact**
Improved rail access to religiously significant sites like Dohrighat and Varanasi is expected to increase pilgrim footfall and boost the local tourism economy.
**Action Required**
Local authorities and businesses should prepare for increased visitor volume facilitated by the new daily rail services and improved station facilities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The nodal ministry responsible for the railway infrastructure, budget allocation, and the introduction of new rail services and schemes mentioned in the policy.
Uttar Pradesh: The primary state of applicability where railway projects worth ₹1.2 lakh crore, including new lines, doubling projects, and station redevelopments, are underway.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: A railway redevelopment program under which 157 stations in Uttar Pradesh are being modernized to enhance passenger facilities.
Bullet Train Corridor for Uttar Pradesh: A high-speed rail initiative announced in the budget to connect major cities including Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Ayodhya.
Dohrighat–Aunrihar Passenger Train: The specific new daily rail service inaugurated to provide affordable and direct connectivity to passengers in the Mau and Ghazipur districts.
Ministry of Railways
Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off
Dohrighat- Mau- Aunrihar Passenger Train
New Daily Rail Service to Provide Affordable, Safe and
Comfortable Connectivity to Passengers of Mau and
Ghazipur Districts
This Train Service to be Extended Till Varanasi : Railway
Minister
Railway Minister Promises One More Train from Poorvanchal
to National Capital Soon
New Train To Connect Chhapra in the East to Delhi via Mau,
Azamgarh, Lucknow and Kanpur
Posted On: 11 MAY 2026 7:07PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information
Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw today virtually flagged off Dohrighat - Aunrihar Passenger Train via
video conferencing. The launch ceremony was held in the presence of the Cabinet Minister of the
Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Arvind Kumar Sharma; Member of Parliament, Rajeev Rai along with
other dignitaries and senior railway officials.This marks a significant step towards enhancing rail connectivity and passenger convenience in the
Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. The new train service has been introduced keeping in view the
convenience of rail passengers and the long-standing demand for direct daily connectivity for the people
of Mau and Ghazipur districts.
Aunrihar–Dohrighat–Aunrihar Passenger Train
The train will halt at Sadat, Jakhanian, Dullahapur, Mau, Indara, Kopaganj, Ghosi, Amila and Muradpur
stations. The train will be extended upto Varanasi soon.The train will operate with an 8-coach rake comprising passenger coaches designed to provide
comfortable and convenient travel for daily commuters and other passengers on the route.
Passenger Train Service to be Extended up to Varanasi
Making a significant announcement, Shri Vaishnaw stated that the newly introduced Aunrihar–
Dohrighat–Aunrihar passenger service would be extended up to Varanasi. The extension will provide
direct connectivity to the cultural and commercial hub of Varanasi, benefiting daily commuters, students,
traders and pilgrims, while further strengthening rail access across eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Benefits of the New Train Service
The new train service will provide direct, affordable, safe, and comfortable daily rail travel to passengers
of Mau, Ghazipur and surrounding areas. The train will directly benefit residents of towns and villages
along the Aunrihar–Dohrighat corridor. The service will support tourism, local trade, education and
employment, and is expected to fulfil a long-pending demand of the people of the region.
Addressing a public gathering at Dohrighat virtually, Shri Vaishnaw described Dohrighat as a place of
deep religious and cultural significance, associated with Lord Shri Ram and revered as the meeting place
of Lord Shri Parashuramji.
New Express Train connecting Purvanchal & Delhi
Responding to a long-standing demand for better Delhi connectivity from the Purvanchal region, Shri
Vaishnaw announced a new express train to be introduced through the northern Ganga corridor. The train
will connect Chhapra – Ballia – Mau – Azamgarh – Shahganj – Jaunpur – Sultanpur – Lucknow – Kanpur
– Aligarh – Ghaziabad – Anand Vihar. He assured the gathering that this service would be started soon.Gauge Conversion of Historic Rail
Shri Vaishnaw noted that the Indara–Dohrighat metre gauge line was built in 1904, over 100 years ago
but that its gauge conversion had to wait until Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi took office. He said
that after 2014, many long-pending railway projects across the country were taken up, including gauge
conversion works, doubling works, and several incomplete projects. The Indara-Dohrighat line was
converted to broad gauge, bringing new rail facilities to eastern Uttar Pradesh. The Railway Minister
stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had flagged off train services on this newly converted line
in December 2023.
Railway Investment in Uttar Pradesh Multiplied
The Union Minister highlighted that the railway budget allocation for Uttar Pradesh in 2014 stood at
merely ₹1,109 crore. After 2014, the allocation had grown to approximately ₹20,012 crore. He added that
railway projects worth around ₹1.2 lakh crore are currently underway across Uttar Pradesh, a scale of
railway development unprecedented in the state's history.
Key Infrastructure Projects Underway
Shri Vaishnaw outlined a series of major railway infrastructure projects progressing in Uttar Pradesh. He
said that south of the Ganga, a major four-line corridor had been developed along the Prayagraj–Kanpur–
Agra–Delhi route. Similarly, a massive four-line railway corridor is being developed north of the Ganga,
connecting Delhi via Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, Sitapur, Gonda and Gorakhpur towards Bihar and
the Northeast.
The Minister listed the following new line and doubling projects currently in progress in the region:
Chitauni–Tamkuhi Road new line; Anand Nagar–Ghughli new line; Sahjanwa–Dohrighat new line;
Bahraich–Khalilabad New Line; Gorakhpur–Valmiki Nagar doubling; Burhwal–Gonda third line; Katra–
Ayodhya doubling; Aunrihar-Varanasi 3rd Line; Mathura–Jhansi third line; Agra Fort–Bandikui doubling;
Chopan–Chunar doubling; and Prayagraj–Manikpur third line.
Shri Vaishnaw also informed that the old Malviya Bridge at Varanasi is ageing, and therefore a new
bridge is being constructed alongside it, carrying four railway lines on the lower deck and a six-lane
highway above. The under-construction bridge is located near Namo Ghat over the Ganga. Shri Vaishnawsaid these projects would completely transform Uttar Pradesh's railway map and enable the operation of
at least 500 new trains in the future.
Amrit Bharat Stations
The Union Minister said 157 Amrit Bharat stations are being developed in Uttar Pradesh, with work
already completed at 28 stations. In the Purvanchal region, redevelopment work is underway at Mau,
Ghazipur City and Dildarnagar stations.
New Trains and Services
Shri Vaishnaw said that around 58 new train services have started in Uttar Pradesh after COVID and 568
services have been extended. He noted that 40 Amrit Bharat Express services and 32 Vande Bharat
services are currently operating in Uttar Pradesh. The Anand Vihar–Mau train service commenced in
February 2021, and in December 2023 new services from Mau towards Mumbai also began.
Underpasses at Three Locations
The Minister also announced that construction of underpasses at locations 14C, 25C and 27C would be
taken up at a fast pace. He directed railway officials to complete the work in record time.
Bullet Train for Uttar Pradesh
Shri Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Modi has announced a Bullet Train Corridor for Uttar Pradesh in
this year's Budget, with work progressing rapidly. He shared the proposed travel times on the corridor:
Delhi–Agra: 58 minutes; Delhi–Lucknow: 2 hours 12 minutes; Delhi–Varanasi: 3 hours 33 minutes;
Delhi–Ayodhya: 2 hours 47 minutes; Lucknow–Prayagraj: 48 minutes; Lucknow–Varanasi: 1 hour 21
minutes; Lucknow–Ayodhya: 35 minutes.
The Minister said the proposed bullet train network connecting Delhi – Lucknow – Varanasi – Patna –
Siliguri would strengthen connectivity with the Ashta Lakshmi states of the Northeast and fulfil the vision
of a Viksit Uttar Pradesh and Viksit Bharat. He assured that the bullet train would remain affordable to the
middle class and ordinary citizens, and would serve as a strong foundation for a developed India.
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma
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