PM Narendra Modi Unveils Redeveloped Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station, Flags Off Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat Trains
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the revitalized Ayodhya Railway Station today, marking a significant milestone in India’s railway infrastructure. The event witnessed the commencement of operations for the new Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat trains, reinforcing the government’s commitment to modernizing and expanding the nation’s rail network.
Addressing the public at the event, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the transformative impact of the Ayodhya Dham Railway Station redevelopment. He noted that the station, currently catering to 10 thousand people, is expected to handle 60 thousand after completion of the revamping process.
Highlighting the launch of the ‘Amrit Bharat’ train series, Prime Minister Modi expressed his delight at Ayodhya being the starting point for the first Amrit Bharat train. He congratulated the residents of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal, and Karnataka for the introduction of these new trains, which follow the successful models of Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains.
Prime Minister Modi underscored the inclusive nature of the modern Amrit Bharat trains, designed to serve people with lower incomes who frequently travel long distances for work. These trains aim to provide modern facilities and comfortable travel to all, ensuring dignity in the lives of the economically disadvantaged.
Speaking on the role of Vande Bharat trains, the Prime Minister emphasized their contribution to connecting development with heritage. He highlighted that Ayodhya has now received the gift of a Vande Bharat train, joining other major centers of faith like Kashi, Katra, Ujjain, Pushkar, Tirupati, Shirdi, and Amritsar.
The redeveloped Ayodhya Railway Station, known as Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station, boasts a three-storey modern building with state-of-the-art features such as lifts, escalators, food plazas, shops for puja needs, cloak rooms, child care rooms, and waiting halls. The station is ‘accessible for all’ and ‘IGBC certified green station building.’
During the event, the Prime Minister flagged off the Amrit Bharat Express, a new category of superfast passenger trains. These trains, equipped with LHB push-pull technology and non-air-conditioned coaches, promise enhanced facilities, including attractively designed seats, improved luggage racks, mobile charging points, LED lights, CCTV, and a public information system.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi flagged off six new Vande Bharat Trains, further expanding the high-speed rail network. These include routes such as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi, Amritsar-Delhi, Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt, Mangalore-Madgaon, Jalna-Mumbai, and Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal.
The Prime Minister also dedicated three railway projects worth Rs 2300 crore to bolster rail infrastructure in the region. These projects include the Rooma Chakeri-Chanderi third line project, sections of the Jaunpur-Ayodhya-Barabanki doubling project, and the doubling and electrification project of the Malhaur-Daliganj railway section.
The inauguration and flagging off of new trains mark a significant leap towards modernization and connectivity enhancement in the Indian railway sector.
