New Delhi, May 12: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday flagged off the Aunrihar–Dohrighat passenger train, enhancing rail connectivity in eastern Uttar Pradesh and addressing long-pending demand from Mau and Ghazipur districts.
The daily passenger service will run with an eight-coach rake, halting at key stations including Sadat, Jakhanian, Dullahapur, Mau, Indara, Kopaganj, Ghosi, Amila and Muradpur. The minister announced that the service will soon be extended to Varanasi, improving access to a major cultural and commercial hub.
The new train is expected to provide affordable and reliable connectivity to residents of the Purvanchal region, supporting local trade, tourism, education and employment.
Vaishnaw also announced plans for a new express train connecting Chhapra to Delhi via key cities including Mau, Azamgarh, Lucknow and Kanpur, aimed at strengthening east–north connectivity.
Highlighting infrastructure progress, the minister said railway investment in Uttar Pradesh has surged significantly since 2014, with projects worth around ₹1.2 lakh crore currently underway. He noted that the historic Indara–Dohrighat line, originally built in 1904, has been converted to broad gauge, enabling modern rail operations.
The minister added that major multi-line corridors along and across the Ganga, station redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat scheme, and new rail lines and doubling projects are set to transform the state’s rail network.
He also highlighted plans for a new bridge near Namo Ghat in Varanasi and reiterated the government’s push for a high-speed bullet train corridor connecting Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and beyond, aimed at boosting regional connectivity and economic growth.
