Vande Bharat BIG Update: Meerut-Lucknow train route extended, will now go upto Varanasi, will also stop in…, Ayodhya travel time to be…

New Delhi: The Indian Railways has extended the operations of the Meerut-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express train (22489/22490) upto Varanasi via Shri Ayodhya Dham. According to the reports, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved this extension. Additionally, a two-minute halt has been added at Hapur railway station. This move will benefit passengers from Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Shamli, and other nearby districts. The move was taken after a request by Uttar Pradesh Minister of State and Muzaffarnagar Sadar MLA Kapil Dev Agarwal.

While making the request, Minister of State Kapil Dev Agarwal highlighted that the people from Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Saharanpur, Shamli, Hapur, Baghpat, and Bulandshahr face considerable difficulties in traveling to Shri Ayodhya Dham and Varanasi, as there is only a direct rail service available from Meerut to Lucknow. Now, the extension of the Meerut-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express will bring massive respite to the people.

A new timetable will be announced soon. Kapil Dev Agarwal said that this decision will provide significant relief to passengers and devotees from the region. Additionally, with a two-minute stop in Hapur, travelers from there will also benefit directly.

Meerut and Lucknow Vande Bharat:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat train between Meerut and Lucknow on August 31, 2024. However, the absence of a stoppage at Hapur railway station left the local residents disappointed. People from the district, including railway passengers, had requested MP Arun Govil, former MP Rajendra Agarwal, and Minister-in-Charge Kapil Dev Agarwal to ensure a stoppage of the train at Hapur.

Convenience for Passengers Traveling to Varanasi

The extension of the route promises to bring a major relief for the passengers travelling to Varanasi and Ayodhya. After local representatives requested a halt for the train, the Ministry of Railways sought a report from the divisional level regarding the feasibility of the stoppage. This report was then sent to the Ministry. Recently, the Operations and Commercial departments assessed the feasibility of a halt at Hapur. The report was submitted to the Railway Board.

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