Poll-Bound Bihar Gets Over 40 Trains In Last 6 Months, Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, Amrit Bharat Listed

The Jogbani-Danapur Vande Bharat express, introduced in September, offers faster access from the border districts in Seemanchal region to Patna. (Image: PTI/File)

In the last six months alone, poll-bound Bihar has witnessed an unprecedented rail expansion with more than 40 new train services announced.

On Monday, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off seven new trains to Bihar, which is preparing for assembly elections later this year.

The new train services include four Vande Bharat, 22 Amrit Bharat, two Namo Bharat, and several other express and passenger trains. In addition, the railways is also working on infrastructure projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore in the state encompassing 56 new projects covering more than 5,000 km of tracks.

“The focus of the government is on improving the ease of living and travelling. These have been long-pending demands of people from various parts of Bihar, which are now being fulfilled,” said Vaishnaw during the inauguration of the latest services, of which three were Amrit Bharat express trains.

The Darbhanga-Ajmer (Madar) service connects northern Bihar to Rajasthan’s prominent pilgrimage centre, while the Muzaffarpur-Hyderabad (Charlapalli) train provides direct access from northern Bihar to South India, benefiting thousands of migrant workers and students. The Chhapra-Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal) service enhances direct connectivity between Bihar and the national capital region, easing travel for both daily passengers and long-distance commuters.

The railways has introduced trains connecting Patna and other major cities with metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad while also strengthening links for smaller towns such as Saharsa, Sitamarhi, Katihar, and Jogbani.

Among these, the Mumbai (LTT)-Saharsa Amrit Bharat Express, flagged off in May, provides a direct and affordable weekly connection between eastern Bihar and India’s financial capital. This offers relief to migrant workers, who previously relied on crowded general coaches.

The Jogbani-Danapur Vande Bharat Express, introduced in September, offers faster access from Bihar’s border districts in the Seemanchal region to the state capital, reducing travel time for residents of Araria, Purnia, and neighbouring areas.

The timing of these launches ahead of the assembly polls has political significance. But the scale of investment and variety of routes indicate a long-term vision for transforming the state’s connectivity.

“You should not look at it through a political prism as we have been launching trains across the country. However, the number of trains Bihar has got in the last six months is unprecedented,” said a railway officer.