Pune To Get Direct Amrit Bharat Express For Varanasi From April 24
Pune To Get Direct Amrit Bharat Express For Varanasi From April 24
The new Hadapsar–Banaras Amrit Bharat Express is set to improve Pune’s rail connectivity with North India, while a Pune–Jabalpur special train has also been converted into a regular service.
Pune is set to receive a major railway connectivity boost as the Ministry of Railways has approved a new Amrit Bharat Express train between Hadapsar and Banaras (Varanasi). The train is expected to be inaugurated on April 24 from Varanasi.
The new service will begin from Hadapsar terminal, offering passengers from Pune and nearby areas a direct rail link to one of North India’s most important religious and cultural cities. Officials said the move is also expected to reduce pressure on the crowded Pune railway station.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw communicated the approval in an official letter to Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol.
Mohol said the demand for stronger rail links between Pune and North India had been pending for years, especially from senior citizens and families travelling for pilgrimage.
“The approval of the Amrit Bharat Express and the regularisation of the Pune–Jabalpur train have fulfilled the long-awaited aspirations of lakhs of passengers,” he said.
The Amrit Bharat Express is a non-AC push-pull train designed for long-distance travel. It operates with locomotives at both ends, allowing smoother acceleration and braking. Railway officials said the train is built for faster travel on permitted routes and includes semi-permanent couplers to reduce jerks during the journey.
The train will have 22 coaches, including sleeper and general class compartments. It will also include luggage-cum-guard vans designed for Divyangjan passengers. Safety features include CCTV surveillance, fire detection systems and improved crash protection mechanisms.
In another relief for passengers, the existing Pune–Jabalpur special train (02131/02132) has now been converted into a permanent regular service with new numbers 20161/20162 as Pune–Jabalpur Express.
This change is expected to help passengers make advance bookings throughout the year and avoid the uncertainty and higher fares often linked to special trains.
Regular traveller welcomed the new Varanasi train and said a direct connection had been a long-standing demand for people travelling for religious purposes.
Detailed schedules, stoppages and booking dates for the Hadapsar–Banaras Amrit Bharat Express are expected to be announced soon.
