Anurag Thakur flags Gurumukhi Express from Una to Kolkata
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur has announced the Gurumukhi Express, a new direct train service connecting Amb Andaura in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, with Kolkata — a significant step in expanding long-distance rail links for the hill state's residents, traders, and tourists.
Key Takeaways
Gurumukhi Express will run between Amb Andaura (Una district, Himachal Pradesh) and Kolkata .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur made the announcement on June 6, 2026 , framing it as 'a train of hopes' for Devbhoomi.
Amb Andaura is on the broad-gauge rail network extended to Una district in the 1990s , which first enabled long-distance services from the region.
The new service provides a direct link between Himachal Pradesh and a major eastern metropolis, removing the need for passengers to change trains.
Key operational details — train number, frequency, and launch date — are yet to be formally notified by Indian Railways .
The service aligns with a post-2014 pattern of Indian Railways adding expresses from smaller hill stations to major metros.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Saturday, June 6, 2026, announced the Gurumukhi Express, a new long-distance train service linking Amb Andaura in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, with Kolkata, hailing it as a new chapter in rail connectivity for the hill state he calls Devbhoomi (land of the gods).
Context
Thakur shared the announcement with the caption 'Devbhoomi mein ummidon ki rail' — 'a train of hopes in the land of the gods' — framing the new express as a long-awaited connectivity milestone for residents of Una district. The post identifies Amb Andaura as the originating station and Kolkata as the terminal destination, making it one of the few direct links between a Himachal Pradesh station and a major eastern metropolis.
Amb Andaura station sits in Una district, one of the more accessible parts of Himachal Pradesh by broad-gauge rail. For residents of the district — including traders, migrant workers, and pilgrims — a direct express to Kolkata removes the need for a change at Chandigarh or Ambala, cutting both cost and travel time.
Policy Backdrop
Rail access to Himachal Pradesh expanded meaningfully after the broad-gauge conversion and extension of the Nangal-Una line in the 1990s, which first brought the district into the long-distance express network. Prior to that, the state's rail connectivity was largely confined to the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla and Pathankot heritage routes.
Since 2014, Indian Railways has periodically introduced new expresses from Himachal stations to eastern and southern cities, part of a broader policy of integrating remote hill regions with the national economy. The Gurumukhi Express fits squarely within that pattern, extending the network's reach deeper into the state's mid-hill belt.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the residents of Una district and the wider Himachal mid-hills — a population that includes a significant number of workers and traders with ties to West Bengal and eastern India. Direct connectivity also benefits tourists travelling from Kolkata to Himachal Pradesh, a corridor that has historically required at least one train change.
For the broader Himachal economy, improved rail links to a city the size of Kolkata can stimulate trade in agricultural produce, handicrafts, and tourism packages. Indian Railways, as the national operator, bears responsibility for scheduling, frequency, and maintenance of the new service.
What's Next
The key questions now are the train's official number, weekly frequency, and the precise flag-off date — details that Indian Railways typically confirms through a formal notification or a ministerial flag-off ceremony. Parliamentarians from the region, including Thakur, are expected to press for higher frequency and additional stops in subsequent Railway Budget discussions.
If the Gurumukhi Express proves popular, it could set a precedent for further direct services from Himachal Pradesh to eastern and southern metros, deepening the state's integration into the national rail map and reinforcing the political dividend that connectivity projects deliver in hill constituencies.
Point of View
Where infrastructure gaps are both a lived grievance and a persistent electoral issue. Anurag Thakur, representing Hamirpur in a state where the BJP has faced competitive elections, is positioning the new service as a tangible delivery — framing it as 'hopes on rails' rather than a routine timetable addition. The Una-Kolkata corridor also has demographic logic: a notable population of Himachali workers and traders has ties to eastern India, making this a socially resonant route. Whether the announcement translates into a formally notified, high-frequency service will determine how much political weight it ultimately carries.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gurumukhi Express?
The Gurumukhi Express is a new long-distance train service announced by BJP MP Anurag Thakur that will connect Amb Andaura station in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, with Kolkata.
Where does the Gurumukhi Express start and end?
The train originates at Amb Andaura in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, and terminates at Kolkata, making it one of the few direct rail links between a Himachal station and a major eastern city.
Who announced the Gurumukhi Express?
BJP Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur, who represents Hamirpur constituency in Himachal Pradesh, announced the service on June 6, 2026, via a post on X.
Why is rail connectivity important for Una district, Himachal Pradesh?
Una district's broad-gauge rail access dates only to the 1990s, and residents have long relied on connections at Chandigarh or Ambala for eastern destinations; a direct express reduces travel time and cost for workers, traders, and tourists.
What are the next steps for the Gurumukhi Express?
Indian Railways is expected to issue a formal notification confirming the train number, weekly frequency, halts, and official launch date before the service begins operations.
