Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Railways have long been the backbone of India’s social and economic fabric. They have carried generations of passengers across vast distances and diverse landscapes. As the lifeline of affordable mass transport, Indian Railways has played a pivotal role in connecting people, markets, and opportunities.
Nearly two centuries after India’s first train journey, Indian Railways continues to transform mobility for millions. By extending comfort, convenience, and reliability, once associated primarily with premium services, Indian Railways have steadily built a more inclusive transport system. Aligned with this vision, the Amrit Bharat Express has emerged as a significant milestone for everyday travellers. It was introduced as a flagship initiative of the Amrit Kaal. Since its launch in December 2023, 30 Amrit Bharat Express trains are operational, and nine additional services are set to be introduced.
Idea and the intent The Amrit Bharat Express is a modern, non-AC long-distance sleeper class train service introduced by Indian Railways to provide reliable, affordable, and comfortable travel. It is designed to handle heavy passenger volumes, especially during festive seasons and peak migration periods.
With fares of approximately Rs 500 per 1,000 km and proportionately lower pricing for short and medium-distance journeys, the service follows a simple and transparent fare structure with no dynamic pricing.
To bridge regions often separated by distance and opportunity, the Amrit Bharat Express supports travel for employment, education, and family needs. It is a part of India’s continued push to expand affordable long-distance connectivity across the country.
Broadening reach The introduction of nine new Amrit Bharat Express trains marks a significant expansion of the network. These new services are aimed at strengthening long-distance connectivity and meeting rising passenger demand across key regions.
KamakhyaRohtak Amrit Bharat Express: Connecting Kamakhya, a major spiritual hub in Assam, with Rohtak in Haryana, this train strengthens long-distance connectivity between the North-East and northern India. Dibrugarh-Lucknow Amrit Bharat Express: Originating from Dibrugarh in Assam and passing through Dimapur in Nagaland, tis train connects frontier and border regions with Uttar Pradesh.
New Jalpaiguri-Nagercoil Amrit Bharat Express: Linking the eastern Himalayan foothills with the southern tip of the country, this service strengthens national integration and long-distance connectivity. New Jalpaiguri-Tiruchirappalli Amrit Bharat Express: This service creates a long-distance rail corridor from the Northeast gateway to Tamil Nadu’s education and temple hubs.
East-South connectivity Alipurduar-Bengaluru Amrit Bharat Express: Providing a direct rail link between a strategic border district and India’s technology capital, this service enhances east–south connectivity. Alipurduar-Mumbai (Panvel) Amrit Bharat Express: An important east– west rail corridor connecting North Bengal’s border belt with the Mumbai suburban region.
Santragachi-Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express: Strengthening east– south rail connectivity, it links eastern India with southern metropolitan and suburban regions.
Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat Express: The train provides a fast and dependable rail link between eastern India and the National Capital Region. Serves major districts across West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Kolkata (Sealdah)-Banaras Amrit Bharat Express: Enhances connectivity between eastern India and one of the country’s most significant spiritual centres