Redevelopment of Haridwar and Dehradun Stations to Focus on Better Amenities for Poor and Middle-Class Passengers Without Increasing Congestion: Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw
Rishikesh Railway Station to be Developed as Feeder Station to Expand Rail Capacity in Uttarakhand: Union Railway Minister
Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Line Work Progressing Rapidly, Will Become the Lifeline for Uttarakhand’s Social, Economic, Religious and Tourism Development: Sh. Pushkar Singh Dhami
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw today virtually flagged off the inaugural service of the Ramnagar-Dehradun Express, marking the commencement of the first-ever direct Express train connecting Ramnagar with Dehradun. Chief Minister of Uttrakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present on the occasion via video conferencing. The new train fulfills a long-pending demand of the people of the region and will significantly strengthen rail connectivity between the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand.
The Express train will operate every Wednesday and Friday. Train No. 15310 will depart Ramnagar at 05:50 hrs and arrive at Dehradun at 12:40 hrs. On the return journey, Train No. 15309 will depart Dehradun at 15:55 hrs and reach Ramnagar at 23:30 hrs. The train will halt at Kashipur, Roshanpur, Pipalsana, Moradabad, Najibabad and Haridwar en route.
The train will comprise AC Second Class, AC Third Class, AC Chair Car, Sleeper Class, Second Sitting and General Second Class coaches, offering comfortable travel options for passengers across different categories.
The new service will benefit residents of Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Dehradun districts in Uttarakhand, as well as Moradabad and Bijnor districts in Uttar Pradesh, including students, farmers, traders and people from all walks of life. It will provide convenient same-day connectivity to Dehradun and Haridwar, enabling passengers to complete official, educational, business and personal work before returning home.
The train is also expected to promote tourism and pilgrimage in the region. It will improve connectivity to Jim Corbett National Park, the Girija Devi Temple situated on a large rock amid the Kosi River near Ramnagar, and the ancient religious sites of Sitamadhi/Sitavani. In addition, passengers will find it more convenient to access the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, including Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, through onward connectivity from Haridwar and Dehradun.
Addressing the people, Shri Vaishnaw said the Ramnagar-Dehradun Express would strengthen rail connectivity between the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand. This is the first direct Express train between the two cities and is expected to provide faster, more convenient and reliable rail connectivity for the people of Uttarakhand.
He also mentioned that Rishikesh railway station will be developed as a feeder station to ease pressure on Haridwar. For this, a master plan is being prepared to create additional capacity and improve connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Vaishnaw highlighted that the redevelopment of railway stations in Uttarakhand is progressing rapidly. He added that 11 stations in the state are being redeveloped, including Dehradun, Haridwar Junction, Harrawala, Kashipur Junction, Kichha, Kotdwar, Roorkee, Kathgodam, Lal Kuan Junction, Ramnagar and Tanakpur.
The redevelopment of Haridwar and Dehradun stations is being planned with special emphasis on providing better facilities for poor and middle-class passengers while ensuring that congestion does not increase, the Railway Minister said. Referring to other rail initiatives, Shri Vaishnaw mentioned that the recently introduced Tanakpur-Nanded Express has received a positive response and that Vande Bharat services in the region are also performing well.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the launch of the Ramnagar-Dehradun Express marks another major step in strengthening rail connectivity in Uttarakhand. He congratulated the people of the state on the introduction of the new train service and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw for the initiative.
He also highlighted that the rail connectivity in Uttarakhand has improved significantly in recent years, with several new train services being introduced across the state. Shri Dhami said work on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line is progressing rapidly and would become a lifeline for the social, economic, religious and tourism development of Uttarakhand.
Further, Sh. Dhami mentioned that Uttarakhand has received a record railway budget allocation of ₹4,769 crore, while railway projects worth more than ₹40,000 crore are currently under implementation in the state. Referring to railway development in Haridwar, Shri Dhami said several infrastructure projects and train services are being planned in view of the upcoming Kumbh.
Trivendra Singh Rawat, Member of Parliament Haridwar Constituency; Anil Baluni, Member of Parliament Garhwal Constituency and senior railway officials were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
