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In the wake of the historic inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the Indian Railways is set to introduce ‘Aastha’ special trains connecting 66 different locations across the nation to Ayodhya. Each train will consist of 22 coaches to accommodate devotees eager to visit the newly consecrated Ram Temple. The move is aimed at facilitating pilgrims’ travel and enhancing accessibility to the holy city.
The Aastha special trains will connect various cities, including New Delhi, Old Delhi, Nizamuddin, and Anand Vihar. Additionally, routes will extend to places such as Agartala, Tinsukia, Barmer, Katra, Jammu, Nashik, Dehradun, Bhadrak, Khurda Road, Kottayam, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Kazipet, Chennai, Salem, Madurai, Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Wardha, Jalna, Goa, Coimbatore, Jammu, Udhna, Indore, Mehsana, Vapi, Vadodara, Palanpur, Valsad, Sabarmati, Bina, Bhopal, Jabalpur, and more.
Tickets for these special Aastha trains can be booked on the IRCTC website and app, with operational stoppages for security reasons. The railways have opted not to disclose train details in the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) due to security considerations. The Indian Railways plans nearly 200 special train services, focusing on operational stoppages and connectivity for 100 days after the Ram Mandir opening ceremony.
The introduction of Aastha special trains underscores the government’s commitment to providing efficient transportation for devotees and fostering increased connectivity to Ayodhya, especially following the monumental occasion of the Ram Temple inauguration. Pilgrims from various regions will have enhanced accessibility to the holy city, ensuring a smoother and more convenient travel experience.
