CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology, Government of India, Ashwini Vaishnaw, dedicated the gauge conversion of the Pilibhit-Shahgarh-Mailani rail section to the nation and inaugurated the new train service on the Pilibhit-Shahgarh-Mailani section by flagging off the inaugural special train via video conferencing.
In his address to the ceremony, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that today is a historic day as Pilibhit is being connected to the state capital in line with the wishes of the people, a credit that goes to your MP, Jitin Prasada, whose special efforts have made this possible today.
He mentioned that it is commonly said about Rohilkhand: “If you are born in Rohilkhand, you will become a hero.” “If you are made from the soil of Rohilkhand, you will turn into gold.”
Railway Minister Vaishnaw added that under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, redevelopment is being carried out at stations in the Rohilkhand region, including Aonla, Badaun, Baheri, Bareilly, Bareilly City, Dhampur, Izzatnagar, Moradabad, Pilibhit Junction, Rampur Junction, Nagina, Saharanpur, and others. In Uttar Pradesh, 157 railway stations are being reconstructed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which is a gift from the double-engine government. He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently increased the budget allocation for railways to strengthen railway infrastructure. In the 2024-25 budget, ₹19,848 crore has been allocated for the development and expansion of rail infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, which is 18 times more than the average budget allocation for Uttar Pradesh from 2009-14. The Railway Minister mentioned that in the past 10 years, 4,900 km of new lines have been laid in Uttar Pradesh.
At the ceremony held in Pilibhit, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada said that a new chapter of development is being written in the Pilibhit region. The long-awaited demand of the people here has been fulfilled by the Modi government today. Pilibhit station is being redeveloped into a world-class station at a cost of ₹17 crore. Facilities such as lifts, escalators, advanced parking, and a foot overbridge are being provided for the convenience of passengers. He announced that three pairs of trains between Pilibhit and Mailani and one pair of trains between Pilibhit and Lucknow are being introduced. He also drew the attention of Railway Minister Vaishnaw to connect Pilibhit with Mathura, Kashi, and Ayodhya.
On this occasion, the Minister of State for Sugarcane Development and Sugar Mills in Uttar Pradesh, Sanjay Singh Gangwar, and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and Agricultural Research in Uttar Pradesh, Baldev Singh Aulakh, along with Hon’ble MLA Baburam, expressed their gratitude to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for starting regular train services between Pilibhit and Mailani.
Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board, Satish Kumar, attended the ceremony via video link. Member of the Legislative Council Sudhir Gupta and Municipal Chairman Aastha Agarwal were present at the ceremony held in Pilibhit.”