Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday, 22 May inaugurated the extension of the Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express and several other railway services in Jodhpur, declaring that the Marwar and western Rajasthan region has received major rail infrastructure investments under the current government. The event also marked expanded connectivity for Jaisalmer, with the Ahmedabad and Sabarmati Express services now extended directly to the desert city.

Key Developments at the Launch

Shekhawat said the Jodhpur–Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express has been expanded from eight coaches to 20 coaches following strong passenger demand. He attributed the decision to directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing it as a direct response to ridership growth on the route. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was also present at the event alongside Rajya Sabha MP Rajendra Gehlot, local MLAs, and senior railway officials.

Bhagat Ki Kothi Station Redevelopment and South India Connectivity

Bhagat Ki Kothi Railway Station in Jodhpur is being developed into a modern mega terminus under the station redevelopment scheme. According to Shekhawat, the project is expected to enable direct rail connectivity from Jodhpur to major south Indian cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune — a significant development for migrants from the Marwar region working in southern states.

Pokhran Loop Line and Jaisalmer Connectivity

The Centre has sanctioned a ₹160 crore loop line project at Pokhran to resolve a long-standing operational bottleneck. Passengers on the Pokhran route currently face delays of nearly 45 minutes during engine-switching operations; the new loop line is designed to eliminate this entirely. Shekhawat also noted that Jodhpur has been included among select railway hubs where maintenance facilities for next-generation trains have been established.

Kavach Safety System Highlighted

Shekhawat referenced the indigenous railway safety system 'Kavach', describing it as a reflection of the government's commitment to the Make in India and Surakshit Bharat initiatives. He said the system is designed to prevent train collisions even in the event of human error or technical malfunction, providing a safety layer for more than 20 million passengers travelling daily on Indian Railways.

Economic Claims and Political Context

The minister also made broader claims about economic management, asserting that despite global fuel price surges — which he said rose by nearly 120 per cent internationally and by 18 per cent in some countries within four days during the Russia-Ukraine conflict — the government shielded Indian consumers from the full impact. He further claimed that the Centre provided fertiliser subsidies worth ₹2.5 lakh crore to ensure uninterrupted supply to farmers at existing prices when international fertiliser costs rose sharply. These claims were not independently verified at the time of reporting.

With the Vande Bharat expansion, the Pokhran loop line, and the Bhagat Ki Kothi redevelopment all in varying stages of execution, the pace of delivery on these commitments will be closely watched by commuters and industry stakeholders across western Rajasthan.