Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary virtually flagged off the Jaipur (Khatipura)–Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express from Lok Sevak Avas, Patna on Sunday, June 21, 2026, launching a new long-distance rail link connecting Rajasthan with Bihar's Mithilanchal region. The event was also attended virtually by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Member of Parliament Gopal Jee.

Context

Choudhary announced the flag-off on X, stating in Hindi: 'Jaipur (Khatipura) - Darbhanga #AmritBharatExpress rail seva ko hari jhandi dikhakar shubharambh kiya' ('flagged off the Jaipur-Khatipura to Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express rail service'). The Chief Minister described the new train as one that will provide 'better rail connectivity to lakhs of passengers from Mithilanchal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to various parts of the country.' The event was conducted virtually, with Choudhary participating from Patna.

Policy Backdrop

The Amrit Bharat Express is an Indian Railways initiative launched in 2023–24 aimed at providing affordable long-distance connectivity between underserved regions and major urban centres. The scheme has been a central plank of the Union government's push to modernise rail infrastructure in eastern and northern India, with successive Railway Budgets since 2014 allocating funds for new trains, line doubling, and electrification projects in Bihar. Choudhary credited the expansion to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that railway development under his government has 'continuously strengthened Bihar's connectivity.'

Stakeholders and Impact

The new service is expected to benefit lakhs of passengers across three states — Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan — with particular significance for Darbhanga and the broader Mithilanchal belt, a region historically dependent on limited rail links to western India. Choudhary said the train will 'create new opportunities in trade, education, employment, and tourism' while giving 'fresh momentum to Bihar's overall development.' Students, migrant workers, traders, and pilgrims travelling between the Gangetic plains and Jaipur are among the primary beneficiaries.

What's Next

The flag-off adds to a growing list of Amrit Bharat Express routes connecting Bihar with other states, and attention will now turn to the rollout of additional services and the next Railway Budget's allocations for ongoing infrastructure projects in the state. The broader question is whether the pace of new train launches translates into measurable improvement in passenger capacity and punctuality on routes serving Mithilanchal — a region that has long sought parity in rail access with better-connected parts of northern India.