Lok Sabha Question No. 4513 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Railway Projects in Sitamarhi
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Laxmikant Pappu Nishad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4513

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN SITAMARHI

## 4513. SHRI LAXMIKANT PAPPU NISHAD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  run  trains  like  Duranto Express/Humsafar/Vande  Bharat/AC  super-fast  express  daily  from Anand Vihar to Darbhanga via Ayodhya, Basti, Khalilabad, Gorakhpur, Narkatiaganj and Sitamarhi and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Railways is planning for big projects like manufacturing of Engines, Passenger coaches or overhaul/maintenance in birth place of Maa Sita i.e. Sitamarhi and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Railways is planning to run trains from other places through Ayodhya to Sitamarhi and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  Railways  is  planning  to  run  direct  trains  between important cities  of  India  like  New  Delhi,  Mumbai  etc.  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d) Indian Railways(IR) constantly endeavours to provide modern facilites  and  improve  connectivity  between  stations.  To  this  end modern   train  services  like  Vande  Bharat  and  Amirt  Bharat  train services are being introduced.

Introduction  of  new  trains,  increase  in  frequency  of  existing  trains, extension  of  existing  trains  etc.  on  any  route/section  depends  on various factors which include:

-  Capacity of that section,
-  Availability of path,
-  Availability of required rolling stock,
-  Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock,
-  Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets

Considering the above factors, and to cater to the needs of DarbhangaDelhi sector, IR have introduced 15557/58 Darbhanga-Anand Vihar (T) Amrit Bharat Express (via Ayodhya, Basti, Gorakhpur, Narkatiaganj and Sitamarhi  w.e.f.  01.01.2024).  Presently,  Darbhanga-Delhi  sector  is served by 04 pairs of train services.

Darbhanga-Ayodhya  sector  is  presently  being  served  by  04  pairs  of train  services  including  15557/58  Darbhanga-Anand  Vihar  (T)  Amrit Bharat  Express  and  recently  introduced  15561/62  Darbhanga-Gomti Nagar Amrit Bharat Express (w.e.f 26.07.2025 via Ayodhya Cantt).

The  above  Amrit  Bharat  services  are  also  catering  to  the  needs  of Sitamarhi-Ayodhya  sector.  Presently,  03  pairs  of  trains  are  serving Sitamarhi-Ayodhya sector.

## 1.            Vande Bharat service:

Indian  Railways  have  introduced  Vande  Bharat  services  which  are semi-high speed trains and are  aimed to provide better travel experience and improved safety to the passengers. These services are equipped with enhanced  safety features  and  modern  passenger amenities like-

- I.       KAVACH system
- II.       Faster acceleration
- III.       Fully Sealed Gangway
- IV.       Automatic Plug Doors
- V.       Better Ride Comfort
- VI.       Mini Pantry with provision of Hot Case
- VII.       Bottle Cooler
- VIII.       Deep freezer & Hot water Boiler
- IX.       Reclining Ergonomic Seats
- X.       Comfortable Seating with revolving seats in executive class
- XI.       Mobile charging sockets for every seat
- XII.       Special lavatory for Divyangjan passengers in Driving Trailer Car(DTC),

XIII.       CCTVs, etc.

As  on  12th  August,  2025,  150   Vande  Bharat  train  services  are operational  on  the  Broad  Gauge  (B.G.)  electrified  network  of  Indian Railways.

## 2. Amrit Bharat services

To cater to the needs of passengers, including those from Bihar, and with a view to provide affordable means of transportation to the low and  middle  income  families,  Indian  Railways  have  introduced  Amrit Bharat  services  that  are  fully  non-AC  modern  trains.  The  present composition of Amrit Bharat consists of 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 01 Pantry car and 02 Luggage cum Divyangjan the these  trains  with  following  enhanced  features  and coaches. High Speed and enhanced Safety standards are hallmarks  of amenities:

- i.     Better aesthetics of seat and berths with enhanced look & feel on the lines of Vande Bharat Sleeper.
- ii.    Jerk Free Semi-Automatic Couplers.
- iii.   Improved Crashworthiness in coaches by provision of crash tube.
- iv.   Provision of CCTV system in all coaches and Luggage room.
- v.    Improved designs of toilets.
- vi.   Improved design of Ladder for ease of climbing on to the berth.
- vii.  Improved LED Light fitting & Charging Sockets.
- viii.   Provision of EP assisted braking system.
- ix.   Aerosol  based  fire  suppression  system  in  toilets  and  electrical cubicles.
- x.    USB Type-A and Type-C mobile charging sockets.
- xi.   Emergency Talk Back system for two-way communication between Passenger and Guard/Train Manager.
- xii.  Non-AC pantry with enhanced heating capacity.
- xiii.     Fully sealed gangways with quick release mechanism for easy attachment and detachment.

To increase the capacity of the rail  network  and  hence  to  run  more trains,  Indian  Railways have taken  up network expansion works in a big way. Any  Coach/Locomotive  manufacturing/maintenance  unit  is  set  up keeping  in  view  Railway's  overall  requirement  of  rolling  stock.  The existing  manufacturing  and  maintenance  units  and  those  already planned  are  sufficient  to  cater  the  present  requirements  of  Indian Railways.

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