Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday, 24 February, flagged off two new express train services connecting Bhopal with Dhanbad in Jharkhand and Chopan in Uttar Pradesh, aimed at improving passenger mobility and strengthening rail connectivity across central and eastern India.
The newly introduced Bhopal-Dhanbad-Bhopal tri-weekly express and Bhopal-Chopan-Bhopal weekly express were virtually inaugurated from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, with the launch ceremony held at Bhopal railway station in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and other officials.
The services have been introduced to address growing demand for direct rail links between Madhya Pradesh and key industrial and mining regions in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, particularly the Singrauli and Dhanbad coal belts.
The Bhopal-Dhanbad express will operate with 24 coaches and halt at 30 stations, connecting major cities and industrial centres along the route.
The Bhopal-Chopan express will also run with 24 coaches and stop at 15 stations, improving connectivity to eastern Uttar Pradesh and coal-producing regions.
The new trains will provide direct access to important stations including Vidisha, Bina, Sagar, Katni, Singrauli, Chopan and Dhanbad, strengthening passenger movement as well as logistics connectivity between the three states.
The services are expected to support trade, mining and industrial activity by linking coalfields and industrial hubs with the state capital, while also improving travel convenience for workers, students and businesses.
