- By Priyanka Koul
- Sat, 15 Nov 2025 05:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ayodhya-Chitrakoot Vande Bharat Express: Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya, now bustling with pilgrims after the opening of the Ram Mandir, is likely to receive another major railway upgrade soon. After connecting the holy city with Patna, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Meerut, and Delhi’s Anand Vihar, Indian Railways is preparing to link Ayodhya directly with Chitrakoot Dham through a new Vande Bharat Express running via Lucknow.
According to a Jagran.com report, the Railway Board has asked the Northern Railway headquarters to submit a feasibility report. If all goes as planned, the service could begin as early as January.
This move is part of a broader effort to strengthen connectivity between important locations associated with the life of Lord Shri Ram. IRCTC has already launched the much-talked-about Ramayana Yatra to link these spiritual destinations, and the proposed Vande Bharat route is set to complement that initiative.
The proposal gained momentum after Unnao MP and religious leader Sakshi Maharaj wrote to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging the launch of a high-speed train between Ayodhya and Chitrakoot. In response, the Railway Board instructed officials to examine the possibility of running the new Vande Bharat via Lucknow, Unnao, Kanpur, and Hamirpur.
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The Lucknow division is currently working on the route details and timetable, and is expected to submit its report to the Board by the end of this month.
Northern Railway may receive a new Vande Bharat rake in January. Once allocated, and depending on the feasibility report, the Railway Board is likely to issue the official notification for the Ayodhya–Chitrakoot Dham Vande Bharat Express. Officials say that if everything proceeds on schedule, the train could begin operations as early as January.