The Railways is set to launch 200 ‘Aastha Special Trains’ to Ayodhya starting from January 22

In anticipation of the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Indian Railways has announced the introduction of 200 ‘Aastha Special Trains’ starting from January 22, 2024. This move comes as several prominent airlines have already declared direct flights to the sacred city in Uttar Pradesh.

The scheduled commencement of these special trains is planned after January 22, following the Pran Prathistha ceremony at the Ram Mandir. The Railway Ministry has outlined its decision to operate these trains from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, and they will remain operational for 100 days post the Ram Mandir ceremony.

The anticipated routes cover states such as Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi, establishing connectivity between Tier 1 and Tier 2 towns in these respective states and Ayodhya. Moreover, Indian Railways plans to introduce similar routes from each state, converging at Ayodhya, with future connections expected from the North-East, likely originating from Guwahati, Assam.

According to the circular released by Indian Railways, reservations for these special trains can only be made through the IRCTC app or website. The onboard catering will exclusively offer vegetarian meals. The charges for these trains encompass reservation fees, superfast charges, catering charges, service fees, and GST.

As part of the preparations for the mega Pran Prathistha ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla at the newly constructed Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, the Indian Railways is set to adorn and illuminate 343 stations throughout the country named after Lord Ram. The ceremonial event is part of the week-long rituals that commenced on Tuesday, culminating in the significant event on January 22, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to preside over the ceremonial installation of Ram Lalla. The temple will be open for public ‘darshan’ starting January 23.

Among the states, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu lead with the highest number of stations bearing Lord Ram’s name, boasting 55 and 54 stations, respectively. Bihar follows closely as the state with the third-highest count of stations named after the revered deity.

This development not only enhances the connectivity to Ayodhya but also provides a convenient and coordinated travel option for pilgrims and visitors in light of the significant religious and cultural event. Both flight and train options have been strategically organized to facilitate the smooth movement of people during this auspicious occasion.