Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma attended the launch of the Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express at Khatipura Railway Station, Jaipur, on Sunday, 21 June 2026, marking a new inter-state rail link between Rajasthan and Bihar.

Context

Sharma shared a live broadcast of the inauguration on social media, captioning it 'Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express ka shubharambh, Khatipura Railway Station, Jaipur' — ('Launch of the Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express, Khatipura Railway Station, Jaipur'). The post confirmed the Chief Minister's presence at the ceremony, signalling the state government's active association with the central railway project.

Khatipura is a railway station in the western outskirts of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, and serves as a key node for trains originating from or terminating in the city.

Policy Backdrop

The Amrit Bharat Express is an Indian Railways initiative announced in 2023 to deploy modern, upgraded long-distance trains with enhanced passenger facilities on select inter-city routes. The programme is part of a broader railway modernisation drive that has prioritised improved rolling stock, faster connectivity, and better amenities for non-premium travellers.

The Darbhanga–Jaipur corridor connects two culturally and economically significant regions: Darbhanga, a major city in Bihar's Mithila belt, and Jaipur, Rajasthan's commercial and administrative capital. Such inter-state routes are designed to ease the movement of migrant workers, students, and families who travel regularly between the Hindi-speaking heartland states.

Successive Amrit Bharat Express launches have incrementally expanded the network since the scheme's rollout, with each new service typically linking regional hubs to state capitals or major urban centres.

Stakeholders and Impact

Rail passengers travelling between Bihar and Rajasthan stand to benefit most directly. The route is expected to serve a large volume of daily commuters, seasonal travellers, and the significant Bihari diaspora resident in Jaipur and other Rajasthan cities.

For the BJP-led governments in both states, the launch carries political visibility: it allows elected representatives to associate themselves with a tangible infrastructure delivery at the grassroots level. Chief Minister Sharma's presence at the flag-off underlines the state administration's intent to be seen as a partner in central-government-led development projects.

Residents of Darbhanga and surrounding districts in northern Bihar gain a direct, upgraded rail option to the Rajasthan capital, reducing dependence on connecting trains or road travel.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the official timetable, fare structure, and frequency of the Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express on the Jaipur corridor. Railway authorities are expected to release operational details in the coming days.

More broadly, the rollout of additional Amrit Bharat routes — including possible frequency upgrades on existing corridors — remains a key metric for evaluating the scheme's progress through the remainder of 2026. The Darbhanga–Jaipur launch adds one more inter-state link to a network that has been steadily growing since the programme's inception.