Bhopal may not have a direct train to Ayodhya yet, but the demand for one has now reached the top table of the Railways. At a meeting of MPs from the Bhopal Railway Division, chaired by Union Minister of State Durga Das Uikey, West Central Railway General Manager Dilip Kumar Singh heard a strong pitch for a daily direct service between Bhopal and Ayodhya. The proposal was moved by Rajya Sabha MP Rajneesh Kumar Agrawal, who said devotees are still forced to take indirect routes or change trains for darshan of Ram Lalla.

 

Agrawal also sought the extension of the Mahamana Express up to Rani Kamalapati station, and a revision in the timing of the Vindhyachal Express, which currently leaves Bhopal at 6:20 pm. The meeting, however, was about much more than one train. For Mandi Bamora, Agrawal demanded halts for the Prayagraj, Itarsi and Patalkot Express, inclusion in the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and a PM Gati Shakti cargo terminal. Railway officials made it clear that new halts will depend on traffic justification and operational feasibility, with final approval resting with the Railway Board. On infrastructure, Rajgarh MP Rodmal Nagar pressed for timely completion of the 276-km, Rs 3,035-crore Ramganj about much more than one train. For Mandi Bamora, Agrawal demanded halts for the Prayagraj, Itarsi and Patalkot Express, inclusion in the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and a PM Gati Shakti cargo terminal.

 

Railway officials made it clear that new halts will depend on traffic justification and operational feasibility, with final approval resting with the Railway Board. On infrastructure, Rajgarh MP Rodmal Nagar pressed for timely completion of the 276-km, Rs 3,035-crore Ramganj Mandi-Bhopal line, which will link Bhopal with Kota via Sehore, Rajgarh and Jhalawar. The full line is targeted for completion by December 2027, though railway officials hope the Bhopal division stretch can be ready earlier. Other big proposals included a Delhi-Indore Vande Bharat via Gwalior, Guna and Ujjain, extension of the Bhopal-Damoh Rajya Rani Express to Itarsi, and a Rani Kamalapati-Sehore MEMU. For the festival rush, West Central Railway is operating 12 pairs of special trains via the Bhopal Division for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath. The GM assured MPs that proposals would be examined under railway rules — a signal that the Ayodhya train is now firmly on the agenda, but still awaiting sanction.