Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, welcomed the inauguration of two new railway services from Pune — a direct train to Sainagar Shirdi and the Pune (Hadapsar)–Patna (Danapur) Amrit Bharat Express — along with the foundation-laying for the Pune Railway Station Yard Remodelling Project, calling the developments a new direction for rail connectivity and infrastructure in Maharashtra.

Posting in Marathi on X, Fadnavis expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the launches, saying the services would provide 'अधिक सुलभ व परवडणारा प्रवास' (more convenient and affordable travel) for students, working professionals, and businesspersons, while also boosting religious tourism and local trade.

Context

The twin service launches and the station project foundation-laying mark a significant day for Pune's rail infrastructure. The new Pune–Sainagar Shirdi train directly connects Maharashtra's second-largest city to one of the state's most prominent pilgrimage sites, a route long sought by religious tourists and devotees. The Pune (Hadapsar)–Patna (Danapur) Amrit Bharat Express opens an affordable long-distance corridor linking western Maharashtra to Bihar, catering to a large migrant worker and student population that travels between the two regions.

Policy Backdrop

The Amrit Bharat Express is a flagship scheme introduced in the 2023-24 Union Budget to roll out modern, semi-high-speed trains on key routes at affordable fares, prioritising last-mile connectivity for ordinary passengers. The Pune Railway Station Yard Remodelling Project is part of a broader push under the National Infrastructure Pipeline, which has sanctioned multiple new lines and station upgrades across Maharashtra since 2019. Together, these initiatives reflect the central government's accelerated railway modernisation agenda under the Amrit Bharat programme.

Stakeholders and Impact

The new services are expected to benefit a wide cross-section of travellers. Students and working professionals commuting between Pune and eastern India gain a direct, economical option, while religious tourists travelling to Shirdi — home to the revered Sai Baba shrine — now have a dedicated rail link from Pune. Local traders and small businesses along both routes stand to gain from increased passenger footfall and improved freight movement. The yard remodelling at Pune Railway Station is designed to enhance platform capacity and reduce congestion at one of Maharashtra's busiest rail junctions.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the completion timeline for the Pune Railway Station Yard Remodelling Project and whether upcoming Union railway budgets expand the Amrit Bharat Express network further across Maharashtra. The rollout of pilgrim-route rail links and long-distance affordable services is expected to remain a priority corridor for both the state government and the Ministry of Railways as Maharashtra heads into its next phase of infrastructure consolidation.