Pune has received a significant improvement in rail connectivity to North India, with the Ministry of Railways approving a new Amrit Bharat Express between Hadapsar and Varanasi. The decision also includes converting the existing Pune–Jabalpur special train into a permanent, regular service.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw communicated the approval through an official letter to Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation.
The new Amrit Bharat Express will operate from Hadapsar terminal, a move aimed at reducing congestion at Pune railway station while offering faster and more direct connectivity for passengers travelling to North India.
Mohol said that the demand for improved rail links between Pune and northern regions had been pending for years, especially for elderly passengers travelling to pilgrimage destinations.
He added that the approval of the new train and the regularization of the Pune–Jabalpur service will benefit a large number of passengers and meet long-standing expectations.
The Pune–Jabalpur special train (02131/02132) will now run as a regular service with new numbers 20161/20162 under the name Pune–Jabalpur Express. This change is expected to make ticket bookings easier throughout the year and help passengers avoid the higher fares typically associated with special trains.