CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Fulfilling a long-standing public demand, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT and Commerce & Industry Jitin Prasada, flagged off the extension of the Gorakhpur–Pilibhit Express up to Izzatnagar (Bareilly) through video conferencing from Rail Bhavan, New Delhi. Earlier, this train operated between Lakhimpur and Gorakhpur, and was extended up to Pilibhit a few months ago. Now, it has been further extended to Bareilly. This initiative marks a significant step by Indian Railways toward strengthening connectivity in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and integrating it more effectively with the mainstream of development.
Local residents had been waiting for this extension to Izzatnagar (Bareilly) for a long time. The region is expected to receive long-term benefits from this move. It will provide better market access for agricultural and forest products, fulfill the travel needs of people, and accelerate the socio-economic development of the Terai region. Improved connectivity is also expected to boost tourism and generate new employment opportunities, thereby supporting comprehensive regional development.
On this occasion, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the unprecedented railway development that has taken place in Uttar Pradesh since 2014. He informed that 5,272 km of new tracks have been laid in the state—more than Switzerland’s entire railway network. Uttar Pradesh has also achieved 100% electrification of its railway routes. Additionally, during this period, 1,660 flyovers and road underbridges have been constructed across the state.
The Minister also stated that to enhance passenger convenience, Indian Railways has installed 154 lifts and 156 escalators at various stations, and Wi-Fi is now available at 771 stations in Uttar Pradesh. He noted that the state currently operates 34 Vande Bharat Express and 26 Amrit Bharat Express trains, providing significantly improved high-quality travel options. He further added that in the last 11 years, 48 pending projects, including the Lucknow–Pilibhit gauge conversion, Pilibhit–Shahjahanpur gauge conversion, and Bareilly–Tanakpur gauge conversion, have been completed—projects that had been awaiting progress for many years.
Vaishnaw also underlined the dramatic increase in railway investment in the state. The budget allocation for Uttar Pradesh, which was ₹1,109 crore before 2014, has now risen 18-fold to ₹19,858 crore. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 157 stations in Uttar Pradesh are being redeveloped. This includes 48 stations in Western and Northern UP, such as Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Shamli, Bulandshahr, Garhmukteshwar, Ghaziabad, Meerut City, Modinagar, Ramghat, Bijnor, Dhampur, Moradabad, Najibabad, Pilibhit, and Bareilly, among others. Of these 157 stations, 10 have already been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while work is progressing rapidly at the remaining stations. This extensive redevelopment campaign marks the beginning of a new era of modern, passenger-friendly railway infrastructure across the state.
Minister of State Jitin Prasada expressed gratitude to Ashwini Vaishnaw for prioritizing Pilibhit, stating that the expansion of these railway services will benefit students, farmers, and tourists the most. Several public representatives, including Bareilly MP Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, MLC Dr. Sudheer Gupta, and Puranpur MLA Baburam, were present at the event and conveyed public appreciation to the Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
By extending the Gorakhpur–Pilibhit Express up to Izzatnagar (Bareilly), Indian Railways continues to reinforce its commitment to enhancing passenger convenience and expanding transportation options, ensuring better, reliable, and sustainable rail services for the Terai region.
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