Amrit Bharat 2.0, Vande Metro Coming To Bihar This Month In Transport Boost For Poll-Bound State
The economical non-AC Amrit Bharat 2.0 will connect the state with Mumbai, while the fully AC Vande Metro will connect the capital city with Jaynagar
Months ahead of assembly polls, Bihar is set to receive a transport boost with the first Amrit Bharat 2.0 train and India’s second Vande Metro train launching this month for the state. The economical non-AC Amrit Bharat 2.0 will connect the state with Mumbai, while the fully AC Vande Metro will connect the capital city with Jaynagar.
The Amrit Bharat 2.0 train is an upgraded version of the already functional Amrit Bharat. It will operate between Saharsa and Mumbai. The poll-bound state had also received the first version of the Amrit Bharat train when it was launched in 2024.
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On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Amrit Bharat train between Saharsa and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai) along with the Vande Metro, officially called the Namo Bharat train, between Jaynagar and Patna.
Amrit Bharat 2.0
In January 2024, the Indian Railways launched two Amrit Bharat trains, including the Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal train. Another train operates between Malda Town and Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (Bengaluru). So, the Saharsa-Mumbai Amrit Bharat will be the second train for Bihar from the newest series of trains.
In January, News18 visited the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, where one coach each of the sleeper and general class of Amrit Bharat 2.0 was kept ready for Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to inspect.
Designed especially for the middle and lower-income groups, the Amrit Bharat train is part of the ‘Make in India’ programme. The train journeys in these non-AC trains will cost about Rs 450 for up to 1,000 kilometers journey.
The Amrit Bharat train was upgraded with enhanced features for making it more modern, comfortable, and high-tech. In the Railway Budget for FY 2025–26, a plan to introduce 100 new Amrit Bharat trains was announced.
Vande Metro
After Ahmedabad-Bhuj, the Jaynagar-Patna Vande Metro will be the second Namo Bharat rapid rail service in the country. These trains operate at a speed of 110 km/h, reducing the travel time by half.
Speaking to News18, a Railways ministry official said with the launch of this train, common passengers of north Bihar will get a fast, safe, and modern travel experience.
“Namo Bharat connects north Bihar directly to Patna, ensuring better access to education, healthcare, justice, and administrative services. With improved connectivity, local handicrafts, agricultural products, and small entrepreneurs will gain access to larger markets," they said.
Both these trains are among the latest trains launched by the Indian Railways and are set to transform the way the state travels.
The term of the current Bihar assembly is ending in November 2025 and elections are scheduled to be held around the year-end.
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