Jalandhar:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Sant Ravidas Express from Jalandhar Cantonment Railway Station on July 17, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the Ravidassia community for a direct train connecting Amritsar and Varanasi.
The Sant Ravidas Express will be the first direct air-conditioned train on the route, offering improved travel facilities for thousands of devotees who visit Guru Ravidas Ji’s birthplace, Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, especially during the annual Parkash Purab celebrations.
The inaugural train will depart from Jalandhar Cantt at 3:40 pm. The 18-coach train will operate three days a week—Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays—and return the following day. Covering a distance of 1,048 km, it will stop at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, Sultanpur, Jaunpur City and Varanasi.
The train comprises three AC coaches, seven sleeper coaches, six general coaches, and one coach for persons with disabilities. It is equipped with modern amenities, including ergonomic berths, bio-vacuum toilets, CCTV surveillance and enhanced safety features.
The launch comes ahead of the 650th Parkash Purab of Guru Ravidas Ji, expected to draw lakhs of pilgrims from across the country, particularly from Punjab’s Doaba region. A special tent city is also being planned in Varanasi to accommodate the anticipated surge in devotees.
Community leaders welcomed the move, stating that the direct train will significantly ease travel for pilgrims. They also reiterated the demand for additional special trains during Ravidas Jayanti to manage the heavy festive rush.
The new service is expected to improve connectivity between Punjab and Varanasi while providing a more comfortable and convenient travel option for devotees throughout the year.
