3 min readAmritsarMay 14, 2026 09:14 PM IST
Punjab on Thursday got its first Amrit Bharat Express, with Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu flagging off the weekly train connecting Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal — a route that stretches across north and eastern India, from Punjab to Assam’s gateway region.
The Amrit Bharat Express (14664/14663) is the 65th such train introduced in the country and the first to originate from Punjab under the Centre’s new non-AC, affordable long-distance rail service programme.
Running between Amritsar Junction and New Jalpaiguri, the train will pass through major cities and towns in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, including Ludhiana, Ambala, Gorakhpur, Raxaul, Sitamarhi, Forbesganj and Siliguri, before reaching the eastern corridor close to Assam and the Northeast.
Describing it as “a train for the common man”, Bittu said the service had been designed primarily for labourers, workers and middle-class passengers who seek affordable long-distance travel without compromising on comfort.
“Every facility is like Vande Bharat, except AC,” the minister said while addressing the gathering at the flagging-off ceremony.
The train features push-pull technology and advanced LHB coaches aimed at improving speed and ride quality. It is equipped with CCTV cameras, fire safety systems, mobile charging points, modern toilets and upgraded interiors. Railway officials said the berth design had also been modified to improve passenger movement inside coaches at night.
Highlighting the affordability factor, Bittu said sleeper-class fares for journeys of nearly 1,000 km would remain within reach of ordinary passengers. He contrasted the pricing with premium train services, saying the objective was to provide modern facilities at economical fares.
Story continues below this ad
The minister also underlined the religious and social significance of the new route, saying it would improve connectivity for devotees visiting Sri Harmandir Sahib, besides boosting tourism to places such as Jallianwala Bagh and the Attari-Wagah border retreat ceremony.
“People from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will now get direct connectivity to Sri Amritsar Sahib,” he said, adding that pilgrims and low-income families would particularly benefit from the service.
The Amrit Bharat train programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30, 2023. With the launch of the Amritsar–New Jalpaiguri service, the number of operational Amrit Bharat trains across the country has risen to 65.
Alongside the launch, Bittu also announced a major redevelopment plan for Amritsar railway station. The station will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 402 crore, while another Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of five new platforms.
Story continues below this ad
The revamped station will include a multi-storey complex on the northern side, commercial space, new subways, lifts, escalators and upgraded parking facilities. A dedicated maintenance shed for Vande Bharat trains will also come up in Amritsar.
According to the Railway Ministry, Punjab’s railway allocation for 2026-27 has been increased to Rs 5,673 crore, with infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 26,000 crore currently underway across the state.
