Anurag Thakur Thanks Modi Govt for Gurumukhi Express Link
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur has thanked the Modi government for the Gurumukhi Express, a new rail service connecting Amb-Indaura in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, with Kolkata — expanding long-distance eastern connectivity for residents of the hill state.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Anurag Thakur publicly thanked the Modi government on June 6, 2026 , for a new rail link.
The Gurumukhi Express connects Amb-Indaura in Una district, Himachal Pradesh , with Kolkata .
Amb-Indaura is served by a station on the Una-Himachal rail line in lower Himachal Pradesh.
The link is part of a broader Indian Railways push since 2014 to expand long-distance services from the Punjab-Himachal belt to eastern India.
Residents of Una and surrounding areas — workers, students, and traders — are the primary beneficiaries of the direct Kolkata service.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Saturday, June 6, 2026, publicly thanked the Modi government for extending the Gurumukhi Express to connect Amb-Indaura in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, with Kolkata, calling it a significant boost to rail connectivity for the hill state.
Context
Posting from Una, Himachal Pradesh, Thakur expressed gratitude — 'हार्दिक आभार' (heartfelt thanks) — to the central government for the new long-distance rail link. The Gurumukhi Express now bridges Amb-Indaura, a town in Una district on the Una-Himachal rail line, directly with Kolkata, opening a long-distance eastern corridor for residents of lower Himachal Pradesh.
Amb-Indaura sits in the foothills bordering Punjab and has seen growing rail infrastructure investment over the past decade. For many residents of Una and surrounding areas, travel to eastern India previously required transit through major junctions, making a direct or near-direct service a practical gain.
Policy Backdrop
Since 2014, the central government has progressively expanded rail connectivity from smaller stations in the Punjab-Himachal belt to major metros and eastern India. Multiple new express and mail trains were introduced through successive Railway Budgets, with the 2019–2024 period seeing launches under regional connectivity schemes targeting underserved stations in Himachal Pradesh.
The broader push aligns with Indian Railways' stated goal of reducing travel time from northern hill states to metros and improving accessibility for regions that lack air or expressway alternatives. The Gurumukhi Express fits within this pattern of extending long-haul services to stations that previously had limited direct connectivity.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries are residents of Una district and adjoining areas of lower Himachal Pradesh, many of whom travel to West Bengal for work, trade, or family visits. A direct rail link to Kolkata reduces dependence on connecting trains and lowers overall journey time and cost.
Long-distance passengers from the region — including students, daily-wage workers, and traders — stand to gain the most. The connectivity also supports the state's tourism sector by making Himachal Pradesh more accessible from eastern India.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to the Railway Budget 2026–27 for announcements on additional services or increased frequency from Una-Amb stations. Pending rail projects in Himachal Pradesh, including track upgradation and new halts, are expected to feature in parliamentary questions in the upcoming session.
Thakur's public acknowledgement signals continued political focus on rail infrastructure as a deliverable in his constituency ahead of future electoral cycles in Himachal Pradesh.
Point of View
Reinforcing the narrative that the Modi government is bridging the hill state's connectivity deficit. The Gurumukhi Express, connecting the relatively small Amb-Indaura station to Kolkata, is symbolically significant: it positions Una district within a national rail grid rather than as a peripheral endpoint. With Himachal Pradesh a perennial electoral battleground, rail connectivity announcements carry outsized political weight beyond their operational value.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gurumukhi Express?
The Gurumukhi Express is a train service that connects Amb-Indaura in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, with Kolkata, providing a long-distance eastern rail link for residents of lower Himachal Pradesh.
Where is Amb-Indaura located?
Amb-Indaura is a town in Una district in lower Himachal Pradesh, bordering Punjab, and is served by a station on the Una-Himachal rail line.
Why did Anurag Thakur thank the Modi government?
Anurag Thakur thanked the Modi government for facilitating the Gurumukhi Express service that links Amb-Indaura in his home state of Himachal Pradesh directly to Kolkata.
How does this train benefit Himachal Pradesh residents?
The direct Kolkata service reduces the need for transit connections, lowering travel time and cost for workers, students, and traders from Una and surrounding areas travelling to eastern India.
What is India's broader rail policy for Himachal Pradesh?
Since 2014, the central government has introduced multiple new express trains and undertaken track upgradation in Himachal Pradesh to improve connectivity from the Punjab-Himachal belt to major metros, including eastern India.
