Indian Railways Doubles Capacity on UP Route, Adds Daily Passenger Service in Madhya Pradesh
The merged Uttar Pradesh service will double passenger capacity to 24 coaches and provide direct connectivity between Chitrakutdham Karwi and Pratapgarh, while the new Madhya Pradesh train will link Itarsi and Jabalpur daily with stops at nine intermediate stations.
New Delhi, Aug. 8 (IANS) — The government has approved the merger of two train services in Uttar Pradesh and introduced a new daily passenger train between Itarsi and Madan Mahal in Madhya Pradesh, in a move aimed at strengthening regional rail connectivity and improving access to key towns and destinations.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the merger will provide direct rail connectivity between Chitrakutdham Karwi and Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh, while also improving access to Kanpur, Lucknow and several other destinations along the route.
Under the new arrangement, the 14109/14110 Chitrakutdham Karwi-Kanpur Central Express and 14123/14124 Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh-Kanpur Central Express will be merged and operate as 14123/14124 Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh-Chitrakutdham Karwi Express.
A major feature of the merger will be a doubling of the train’s passenger capacity. The composition will increase from 12 coaches to 24 coaches, effectively doubling the number of passengers the service can accommodate.
The train will connect several important stations, including Pratapgarh, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Lucknow, Unnao, Kanpur Central, Hamirpur Road, Banda, Atarra and Chitrakutdham Karwi.
The merger is expected to make travel between the Chitrakoot and Lucknow-Pratapgarh regions more convenient by eliminating the need for passengers to change trains at Kanpur Central.
The Ministry of Railways said the improved service will also benefit passengers travelling for pilgrimage, tourism, education, employment, healthcare and business, particularly those travelling to Chitrakoot and other religious and regional centres.
New Daily Passenger Service in Madhya Pradesh
Separately, the government has approved a new daily passenger train between Itarsi Junction and Madan Mahal in Jabalpur, providing an affordable rail option for passengers travelling between the two cities and intermediate towns.
Train No. 51673 Itarsi-Madan Mahal Passenger will depart from Itarsi at 11:40 a.m. and arrive at Madan Mahal at 4:45 p.m.
The return service, Train No. 51674, will depart from Madan Mahal at 5:50 p.m. and reach Itarsi at 10:55 p.m.
The 242-kilometre service will take approximately five hours and five minutes and will stop at Bagra Tawa, Sohagpur, Pipariya, Bankhedi, Salichauka Road, Gadarwara, Kareli, Narsinghpur and Sridham.
The ministry said the new service will provide daily and affordable rail connectivity for passengers travelling between Itarsi and Jabalpur while improving access to intermediate towns and smaller stations along the route.
The service is also expected to strengthen onward connectivity from Itarsi Junction, one of the important railway junctions in the region, to destinations across the country.
The two measures are part of the government’s broader effort to improve passenger capacity, strengthen regional connectivity and make rail travel more accessible to communities in smaller towns and regional centres. (Source: IANS)
