A new long-distance rail link between Gujarat and Bihar is now approved — and it runs straight through Hajipur. On Saturday, 26 September 2026, Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan announced that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has greenlighted train numbers 19427/19428, the Bhuj–Barauni Amrit Bharat Express via Hajipur, in response to his direct request for stronger rail connectivity in his parliamentary constituency.

Bhuj to Barauni: the route that bridges two ends of India

The approved service will connect Bhuj in Kutch, Gujarat — the country's westernmost major rail terminus — with Barauni in central Bihar, passing through Hajipur, the constituency Paswan represents in the Lok Sabha. In his post, the minister stated: 'This new rail service will provide passengers from Hajipur and Bihar with better rail connectivity to Gujarat and other parts of the country, making long-distance travel more convenient.'

The corridor effectively stitches together two regions separated by thousands of kilometres, offering Bihar travellers a direct Amrit Bharat Express option where they previously had to negotiate multiple interchanges or rely on less frequent services.

What the Amrit Bharat Express label means for passengers

Indian Railways launched the Amrit Bharat Express programme from 2023 onward as a network-expansion push — adding long-distance trains with upgraded amenities to routes that had historically been underserved. The trains are positioned as a step above conventional express services while remaining accessible to general travellers. The Bhuj–Barauni pairing follows a broader pattern of Amrit Bharat pairs linking western and eastern India, often approved in direct response to requests from sitting MPs.

For Hajipur, inclusion as a designated halt — rather than a pass-through — is the operative detail. It means ticketed originating and terminating berths at the station, not merely a technical stop.

Paswan's constituency play and the Vaishnaw acknowledgement

Paswan was explicit about the political pathway: the approval came 'on my request' (mere aagraha par) for strengthening public convenience and regional rail connectivity in his parliamentary constituency. He closed the post with a 'heartfelt gratitude' (hardik aabhar evam dhanyavad) to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, tagging him directly — a public acknowledgement that frames this as a constituency delivery secured through ministerial coordination rather than a routine timetable revision.

The timetable, intermediate stops, and commercial launch date for train numbers 19427/19428 are yet to be formally notified by Indian Railways.