Jamshedpur: The new Santragachi-Khatipura Express was launched on Monday to strengthen rail connectivity between Jharkhand and Rajasthan. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the train virtually, with the launch programme also linked to Tatanagar railway station. Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato and other public representatives attended the event at Tatanagar. The new service will provide passengers from Jamshedpur and other parts of Jharkhand with an additional rail connection to Jaipur and several major cities in Uttar Pradesh.
According to information released by the Railway Board, train number 18061, the Santragachi-Khatipura Express, will arrive at Tatanagar at 10.50 pm and depart at 11.05 pm. On the return journey, train number 18062, the Khatipura-Santragachi Express, will reach Tatanagar at 3.05 pm and leave at 3.10 pm. The train will cover approximately 1,677 kilometres. Under the proposed operating schedule, it will depart from Santragachi on Wednesdays and from Khatipura on Fridays. The service will use Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, with maintenance assigned to Santragachi.
The train’s route will include several important stations, such as Chandil, Purulia, Muri, Ranchi, Lohardaga, Tori, Latehar, Barwadih, Daltonganj, Garhwa Road, Japla, Dehri-on-Sone, Sasaram, Bhabua Road, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Kanpur Central, Tundla, Agra, Bandikui and Dausa, among others. The service will give passengers from Palamu, Latehar, Garhwa and Ranchi regions of Jharkhand another rail travel option towards Rajasthan.
The new train is expected to benefit tourists travelling to Jaipur, businesspeople, students and devotees visiting the Khatu Shyam temple. Khatipura is a railway station in the Jaipur area, from where passengers can continue by road to the city and nearby religious destinations. The service could also prove useful for passengers travelling to Prayagraj, Kanpur and Agra.
During the launch programme, MP Bidyut Baran Mahato highlighted railway infrastructure development projects planned for Jamshedpur. He cited Rs 348 crore for the redevelopment of Tatanagar railway station, Rs 132 crore for the construction of a signature bridge at Burmamines and Rs 50 crore for a new railway station at Kudada near Sundernagar. He also called for a new train service between Tatanagar and Bengaluru.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said there had been a long-standing demand for rail connectivity between Tatanagar and Jaipur. He also referred to an increase in the railway budget allocation for Jharkhand. Passengers will now be looking for details on the train’s regular operations, ticket bookings and the complete timetable.
