A major announcement is in the works for the residents of Meerut. The Vande Bharat Express, which currently operates from Meerut, is set to extend its route to Ayodhya and Varanasi beyond Lucknow. While the train currently runs only up to Lucknow, plans are underway to expand its service to Ayodhya and Kashi following approval of the new route proposal. It is anticipated that the Vande Bharat Express will commence operations on this route from August 26th. The train will directly connect the city of Ayodhya, the abode of Lord Rama, and Varanasi, the city of Baba Vishwanath, to Meerut, providing significant convenience to passengers from religious, educational, and business perspectives.
Providing information on this development, Dr. Laxmikant Vajpayee, National Vice President of the BJP and Rajya Sabha MP, stated that he had met with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and requested this route. Subsequently, the Railway Ministry approved the route. Vajpayee claimed that the Railways had assured the commencement of this service from August 26th. The Railways are currently engaged in finalising the timetable and other operational preparations. This new Vande Bharat service will not only directly connect Meerut to religious sites, but will also help in linking this historically significant city to major pilgrimage sites across the country.
Railway Minister Made a Promise
Another piece of good news has emerged for the people of Meerut regarding rail transport. On May 25, 2023, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the Dehradun-Anand Vihar via Meerut Vande Bharat Express. A few months later, in April 2024, he formally announced the operation of the Vande Bharat from Meerut to Varanasi via Lucknow. Following this, the Vande Bharat Express began its service between Meerut and Lucknow on August 31, 2024, providing western Uttar Pradesh with not only direct and faster rail service to the capital, but also opening up new transportation routes.
Subsequently, the demand for running the Vande Bharat directly from Meerut to Ayodhya and Varanasi gained momentum. Dr. Laxmikant Vajpayee, National Vice President of the BJP and Rajya Sabha MP, bly advocated for this demand of local passengers and the general public in Delhi. The continuous follow-up in the Railway Ministry has resulted in the route receiving in-principle approval. The Vande Bharat Express is expected to commence operations from Meerut to Ayodhya and Varanasi soon, which will promote religious tourism and allow passengers to visit Ramnagari and Baba Vishwanath Dham within a few hours.
The Public Will Reach Religious Sites Directly
The Vande Bharat Express running from Meerut to Lucknow will soon run to Varanasi via Ayodhya. This long-awaited route extension will not only provide relief to passengers, but also give a new dimension to religious tourism. People from western Uttar Pradesh will now be able to reach the city of Lord Rama, Ayodhya, and the abode of Baba Vishwanath, Varanasi, within a few hours. Railway officials say that this service will not only increase the number of passengers, but also increase the revenue of the Railways.
Local devotees are very excited about this new initiative. 72-year-old Rajesh Sharma emotionally says, "Now the darshan of Ramlala and Baba Vishwanath will be just a few hours away, this is what we were waiting for." Meanwhile, Siddharth Gupta says that, with such convenience, thousands of people will go directly from Meerut for darshan. A glimpse of faith was also seen among the women. Sunita, Sudesh Sharma, and Urvashi Shukla said, "This is all the grace of Lord Shri Ram. It seems that God himself is running this Vande Bharat to call his devotees."
