New direct link for Dhanbad among two Bhopal-origin trains
New Delhi/Bhopal/Dhanbad: Two express services connecting Bhopal with destinations in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, including a direct Bhopal–Dhanbad connection, were inaugurated on Tuesday with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagging them off virtually from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi. The launches took place alongside an event at Bhopal Railway Station attended by Madhya Pradesh political leaders and railway officials, the ministry reported.
The two trains are the Bhopal–Dhanbad–Bhopal Tri‑Weekly Express (Train No. 11631/32) and the Bhopal–Chopan–Bhopal Weekly Express (Train No. 11633/34), introduced to meet growing demand for direct connectivity from Madhya Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The services are intended to improve passenger convenience for travellers to and from Dhanbad, a major urban and coal‑mining centre in Jharkhand.
At the ceremony, Vaishnaw highlighted the scale of recent railway approvals for Madhya Pradesh during the current central government term, saying railway development in the state has reached an "unprecedented scale" with projects worth about ₹48,000 crore sanctioned. He cited several major sanctioned projects as part of wider capacity expansion and connectivity improvements.
- New trains: Bhopal–Dhanbad Tri‑Weekly Express (11631/32); Bhopal–Chopan Weekly Express (11633/34).
- Objective: Direct connectivity between Bhopal and destinations in UP and Jharkhand; ease passenger movement and address growing travel demand.
- Occasion: Flagging off held at Rail Bhawan (virtual) and Bhopal Railway Station (physical), attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and other dignitaries.
The Union Minister also outlined larger rail infrastructure projects that were approved for the region, which the ministry said will increase capacity, punctuality and freight movement. Notable projects mentioned include the Indore–Manmad new line (estimated ₹18,000 crore), the Itarsi–Nagpur fourth line (₹5,400 crore), the Itarsi–Bhopal–Bina fourth line corridor (₹4,300 crore) and the Vadodara–Ratlam third and fourth line project (₹8,800 crore).
Vaishnaw also announced a proposed Dedicated Freight Corridor stretching from Dankuni (West Bengal) to Surat (Gujarat), a 2,052‑km East–West corridor that will pass through Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and link with the existing Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. The ministry said this corridor is planned to improve access to western ports and support industrial development by enabling smoother goods movement.
| Train | Number | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhopal–Dhanbad–Bhopal Express | 11631/32 | Tri‑weekly | Direct link includes Dhanbad |
| Bhopal–Chopan–Bhopal Express | 11633/34 | Weekly | Connects Madhya Pradesh with Chopan (UP) |
For Dhanbad residents and regular long‑distance travellers, the new tri‑weekly direct service offers an alternative to routes that previously required changes at intermediate junctions. Improved direct services can reduce travel time, inconvenience and the need to book multiple reservations — factors that particularly affect working passengers, students and those travelling for medical or business reasons.
Railway authorities have said the additional services form part of broader efforts to expand capacity, reduce congestion on existing routes and dovetail passenger services with freight improvements. The proposed East–West freight corridor, if implemented as described, would also alter freight flows that currently traverse parts of eastern India, potentially easing pressure on passenger lines that serve the Dhanbad region.
"Railway development in Madhya Pradesh has reached an unprecedented scale," the Union Minister said, listing sanctioned projects and underlining the government's focus on both passenger and freight infrastructure.
Local commuters and passenger groups will be watching for the published timetables, stopping patterns and ticketing arrangements once detailed schedules are released by the railway timetable authority. Officials did not provide specific arrival and departure timings for Dhanbad in the initial announcement; passengers are advised to consult official Indian Railways releases or the national enquiry systems for confirmed schedules and reservation availability.
