BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Saturday, 7 June 2026, announced the commencement of the Gurumukhi Superfast Express linking Amb Andaura in Himachal Pradesh to Kolkata, calling it a landmark connectivity milestone for the hill state's residents.

Context

Posting on X, Thakur described the development as 'badi khushkhabri' ('great news') for all families of Devbhoomi Himachal. The new train, originating at Amb Andaura in Una district, will now give residents of Himachal Pradesh a direct rail connection to major cities including Anandpur Sahib, Ambala, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, Deoghar, and Kolkata.

In his post, Thakur noted that passengers will no longer need to travel to another state to board a train for these destinations: 'Now we have a direct train from our own region.' He extended thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for enabling the service.

Policy Backdrop

The launch is consistent with a broader push since 2014 by the central government to extend long-distance express services to stations in smaller cities and hill states, reducing the need for passengers to travel to major junctions for onward connections. Successive Railway Budgets have earmarked resources for new superfast expresses on high-demand corridors.

Indian Railways has progressively expanded direct connectivity from northern hill-state stations to eastern destinations, addressing a longstanding gap for travellers from Himachal Pradesh who previously had to change trains at Ambala, Chandigarh, or other junction stations. The Amb Andaura–Kolkata corridor passes through economically significant nodes in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are residents of Una district and surrounding areas of Himachal Pradesh, many of whom travel regularly to pilgrimage sites such as Anandpur Sahib and Deoghar, as well as to commercial centres like Lucknow, Patna, and Kolkata. A direct superfast service is expected to reduce total journey time and eliminate the inconvenience of intermediate interchanges.

Workers, students, and pilgrims from the region stand to gain the most from the new connectivity. The route also touches several cities with large Himachali diaspora communities, making the service socially and economically significant beyond its transport utility.

What's Next

The operationalisation of the Gurumukhi Superfast Express is likely to prompt calls for similar direct services from other stations in Himachal Pradesh, including those in Kangra, Solan, and Shimla districts. Railway officials and elected representatives from the state are expected to push for additional frequency and new routes in forthcoming timetable revisions and the next Railway Budget presentation. The service also sets a precedent for extending superfast connectivity to other hill-state stations with historically limited direct rail access to eastern India.