Bhopal-Ayodhya special train on cards, no final decision yet
   Date :25-Dec-2023

Bhopal-Ayodhya special train 
 
 
 
 
By Ankita Garg
 
Though Bhopal railway has proposed to run a special train for Ayodhya to provide an opportunity to the devotees for attending the grand inauguration of Ram Temple, however, final decision could not be taken yet. Railway officials said that they have sent the detail proposal and final decision will be taken by the Railway Board. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Assistant Commercial Manager Naval Agrawal said, “Nothing is finalised yet. Only proposal is sent to the board. We have proposed to keep 22 coaches with 72 seats in each. The board will be keeping number of seat, coach, halt, time, etc as per their own team’s decision. He further said that Railway Board has proposal for more than 40 trains across the country. It is not one day decision to approve the number of special trains from various part of country. The board will be assessing availability, district management in Ayodhya and other detail and then final decision will be taken about the trains, date and seats, added the ACM. He further said that proposal is there to run special trains from January 26 to February 21 from all routes.
 
ACM Naval Agrawal informed that, proposal has been sent to run the special train for Ayodhya on February 5 (departure at 10:25 pm) and it will be reaching the destination on February 6 (5:10 pm). It is proposed to run 22 coaches with 72 seats in each and all of them will be sleeper. There are proposal for total 1,584 berths and booking for the same will be held via reservation window and e-ticket from IRCTC authorised portal. He said, in return, the train is pitched to depart Ayodhya on February 8 (departure 10:35 pm) and reaching Bhopal on February 9 (3:20 pm). Route of this train is proposed as Bina, Jhansi, Gwalior via Bhind and then Itawa, Kanpur Central and Lucknow. It would take around 18 hours 45 minute to travel the distance. He said that mostly pilgrimage special train is run by IRCTC. West Central Railway Headquarters in Jabalpur is reviewing the proposal to decide whether to run the train by IRCTC or Railway itself, added the ACM.
 
The train will run from various parts of country to make it easier for passengers to reach the pilgrimage after grand inauguration. The board has given final consent for few trains for Ayodhya from other routes and no final decision has been taken for Bhopal yet. The temple will be inaugurated on January 22 and open for the public from January 23. Schedule of the proposed train from Bhopal to Ayodhya: Departure of the train is proposed on February 5, at 10:25 pm and arrival on February 6, 5:10 pm In return, the train is proposed to depart Ayodhya on February 8, 10:35 pm and arrival in Bhopal on February 9, 3:20 pm. There are 22 coaches proposed with 72 seats in each. Proposed route of the special train is Bina, Jhansi, Gwalior via Bhind and then Itawa, Kanpur Central and Lucknow. The train will be taking 18:45 hours to travel the journey.