Amritsar: Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Thursday flagged off the Amrit Bharat Express from Amritsar Junction railway station for New Jalpaiguri. The 14664/14663 Amrit Bharat Express will benefit migrant workers, students, businessmen, tourists, pilgrims, and families travelling between Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.Bittu said the Amrit Bharat Express is a modern non-AC train specially designed for common passengers, offering premium long-distance travel experience at economical fares.The train will operate weekly between Amritsar and New Jalpaiguri, providing a major boost to connectivity, tourism, trade, and regional development.He said the railway budget allocation for Punjab had increased to Rs 5,673 crore in 2026-27. Projects worth over Rs 26,000 crore are currently under execution across the state, he added. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 30 railway stations across Punjab are being redeveloped with world-class passenger amenities, he said. Major stations in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali, Anandpur Sahib, and Muktsar are undergoing extensive modernisation, Bittu said. The redevelopment of Chandigarh railway station, at a cost of Rs 462 crore, is among the flagship projects being executed by Rail Land Development Authority, he said.
