Vaishnaw flags off Chhapra-Anand Vihar train; Bihar to get 200 new trains in 7-8 years
Synopsis
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw used Friday's Chhapra–Anand Vihar train inauguration to unveil Bihar's rail future: 200 new trains in 7-8 years, ₹1.15 lakh crore in active projects, an approved Delhi–Patna bullet train that would cut travel time to under 5 hours, and a ₹3,000-crore locomotive export deal with Guinea — all from a single event in Chhapra.
Key Takeaways
Ashwini Vaishnaw and Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the Chhapra–Anand Vihar weekly train service on 19 June 2025 .
Bihar is set to receive more than 200 new trains over the next 7-8 years .
Railway projects worth over ₹1.15 lakh crore are currently underway in Bihar.
The Delhi–Varanasi–Patna bullet train corridor has received approval; travel time between Patna and Delhi to be cut to 4 hours 41 minutes .
The Marhaura Diesel Locomotive Factory has secured a ₹3,000-crore deal to export 140 locomotives to Guinea over three years.
Bihar CM announced 2 new airports in Chhapra and plans for 10 Green Cities across the state.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday, 19 June jointly inaugurated a new weekly train service linking Chhapra Junction with Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi, marking a significant boost to rail connectivity for the Saran region. At the same event, Vaishnaw virtually flagged off two additional services — one connecting Maul to Delhi and another from Zahirghat to Varanasi.
Key Announcements at the Inauguration
Addressing the gathering, Vaishnaw declared that Bihar would receive more than 200 new trains over the next seven to eight years as part of a sweeping railway expansion drive. He added that railway projects worth more than ₹1.15 lakh crore are currently underway across the state, describing the pace of infrastructure development as unprecedented.
The ceremony was also attended by Saran MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Maharajganj MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal, along with other elected representatives.
Bullet Train Corridor Gets Green Light
In a major infrastructure reveal, Vaishnaw confirmed that the Delhi–Varanasi–Patna bullet train corridor has received formal approval. Once operational, the high-speed rail link is projected to reduce travel time between Patna and Delhi to just 4 hours and 41 minutes. He further indicated that there are plans to extend the corridor northward to Siliguri in the future, potentially transforming connectivity across the eastern Gangetic belt.
Bihar's Railway Budget and Locomotive Exports
Vaishnaw credited the expansion to a significant increase in Bihar's railway budget under the current central government, which he said has enabled rapid modernisation across the state. He also spotlighted Bihar's emerging role in railway manufacturing: the Marhaura Diesel Locomotive Factory has begun exporting locomotives to Guinea. Four units were shipped last year via Mundra Port, and a delegation of Guinean ministers who visited the Marhaura facility in May 2025 subsequently finalised an agreement for 140 locomotives. The export contract, valued at ₹3,000 crore, will see Bihar-built locomotives supplied to Guinea over the next three years.
What the State Government Said
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said Bihar is forging a new identity in information technology, industry, and infrastructure. He disclosed that two airports are being developed in Chhapra and that the state government plans to establish 10 Green Cities across Bihar.
Saran MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy described the new Chhapra–Delhi train as the fulfilment of a long-pending regional demand, noting that travellers from Saran previously had to commute to Sonpur or Varanasi to access direct rail links to the capital. He said the new service would substantially ease travel for residents of Saran and surrounding districts.
What Comes Next
With the bullet train corridor approved and ₹1.15 lakh crore in active projects, Bihar's railway transformation is moving from announcement to execution. The pace of delivery on the 200-train promise and the locomotive export pipeline will be the metrics to watch over the next few years.
Point of View
The 200-train promise, and the Guinea export deal all announced in a single sitting ahead of the Bihar assembly election cycle. The ₹1.15 lakh crore project figure is large, but Bihar has historically seen a gap between sanctioned rail projects and their on-ground completion timelines. The Marhaura locomotive export story is genuinely significant and underreported: it positions Bihar as a manufacturing exporter, not just a recipient of central largesse. Whether the bullet train corridor moves from approval to construction at the pace suggested will be the real test of these commitments.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new Chhapra–Anand Vihar train service?
It is a new weekly train service inaugurated on 19 June 2025 by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, connecting Chhapra Junction in Bihar to Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi. The service addresses a long-standing demand from residents of Saran district who previously had to travel to Sonpur or Varanasi for direct Delhi connectivity.
How many new trains will Bihar get and by when?
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Bihar will receive more than 200 new trains over the next seven to eight years as part of a major railway expansion plan. This is in addition to the ₹1.15 lakh crore worth of railway projects already underway in the state.
Has the Delhi–Patna bullet train been approved?
Yes, the Delhi–Varanasi–Patna bullet train corridor has received formal approval, according to Vaishnaw. Once operational, it is projected to cut travel time between Patna and Delhi to 4 hours and 41 minutes, with future plans to extend the corridor to Siliguri.
What is the Marhaura locomotive export deal with Guinea?
The Marhaura Diesel Locomotive Factory in Bihar has secured a ₹3,000-crore contract to supply 140 locomotives to Guinea over three years. The deal was finalised after a delegation of Guinean ministers visited the Marhaura facility in May 2025; four locomotives had already been exported to Guinea the previous year through Mundra Port.
What other infrastructure announcements were made for Bihar at the event?
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced that two airports are being developed in Chhapra and that the state plans to establish 10 Green Cities. Vaishnaw also virtually flagged off two additional train services — Maul to Delhi and Zahirghat to Varanasi — at the same event.
