Kolkata: PM Narendra Modi flags off 3 Amrit Bharat Express trains; south eastern railway gets major connectivity boost
Times of India | 19 January 2026
KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off three new Amrit Bharat Express trains through video conferencing, significantly strengthening long-distance and regional rail connectivity under the South Eastern Railway (SER) zone. The Prime Minister also inaugurated a new 15-km railway line between Jayrambati and Maynapur in West Bengal, marking another milestone in the expansion of rail infrastructure in eastern India.
The three newly introduced Amrit Bharat Express services will run between Santragachi–Tambaram, Howrah–Anand Vihar, and Sealdah–Banaras, enhancing SER’s role as a critical rail hub linking eastern India with the south and north. Senior railway officials, including Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh, Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar, South Eastern Railway General Manager Anil Kumar Mishra, and Kharagpur Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Mohan Pandey, were present at Santragachi station during the inaugural programme.
The Tambaram–Santragachi Amrit Bharat Express (16107/16108) will operate weekly, connecting West Bengal with Tamil Nadu via major stations across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The train is expected to benefit passengers travelling between eastern and southern India by offering a faster, modern, and affordable long-distance service.
Another key addition is the Howrah–Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat Express (13065/13066), which will provide a vital link between Kolkata and the National Capital Region. Running once a week in each direction, the train will serve important industrial, educational, and religious centres across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, reinforcing Howrah’s importance within the SER network.
The third service, the Banaras–Sealdah Amrit Bharat Express (22588/22587), will run three days a week in each direction, significantly improving connectivity between eastern Uttar Pradesh and south Bengal. With stoppages at major junctions such as Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Patna, Asansol, and Durgapur, the train is expected to see strong demand from pilgrims, students, and migrant workers.
In a boost to suburban and regional connectivity, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the Jayrambati–Maynapur new railway line in Bankura district, constructed at a cost of Rs.280 crore. This section forms part of the larger Tarakeswar–Bishnupur (83 km) new line project, which aims to improve rail access in rural and semi-urban areas of West Bengal. A MEMU service between Jayrambati and Maynapur has also been introduced to cater to daily commuters.
Officials said the new services reflect Indian Railways’ focus on upgrading passenger experience while expanding capacity. For South Eastern Railway, the launch marks a significant step in strengthening its long-haul, inter-zonal, and regional operations, positioning the zone as a key driver of rail-led connectivity and economic growth in eastern India.
Photo Caption: Ravneet Singh, Minister of State for Railways, Satish Kumar, Chairman & CEO Railway Board, Anil Kumar Mishra, General Manager, South Eastern Railway, Lalit Mohan Pandey, Divisional Railway Manager, Kharagpur and other dignitaries were present during the inaugural run of Santragachi-Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express, Howrah-Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat Express and Sealdah-Banaras Amrit Bharat Express Trains from Santragachi Station