Prime Minister Modi to Flag Off Two New Trains for Gujarat Ahead of Diwali

Train Services

Gujarat railway passengers will receive two new train services ahead of Diwali, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing on October 30, 2026. The new additions include the Sabarmati-Varanasi Express and the Mehsana-Bechraji-Sabarmati MEMU train.

Sabarmati-Varanasi Express

The Sabarmati-Varanasi Express will operate daily as a permanent train, connecting major cities across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. It departs Sabarmati at 5:20 AM and arrives in Varanasi at 6:30 AM the next day, while the return service leaves Varanasi at 5:30 PM to reach Sabarmati at 8:15 PM the following night. According to TV9 Gujarati, key stoppages for this train include Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Falna, Marwar Junction, Beawar, Ajmer, Kishangarh, Jaipur, Gandhinagar Jaipur, Bandikui, Mandawar Mahwa Road, Khedli, Nadbai, Bharatpur, Idgah, Agra Junction, Tundla, Govindpuri, Subedarganj, and Mirzapur. Ahmedabad division's DRM noted that this service will strengthen rail connectivity and assist pilgrims visiting Kashi Vishwanath.

Mehsana-Bechraji-Sabarmati MEMU

The Mehsana-Bechraji-Sabarmati MEMU train will run twice a day to support North Gujarat's development and daily commuters. It will benefit devotees traveling to the Bahuchar Mataji temple in Bechraji, as well as workers and professionals in the area's growing automobile and industrial hub. The train stops at Chandkheda, Kalol, Kadi, Bhoyani, Katosan Road, Bechraji, Chanasma, and Ranuj. It departs Sabarmati at 6:40 AM, reaches Bechraji at 8:05 AM, and arrives in Mehsana at 9:45 AM, with a return trip leaving Mehsana at 4:40 PM. A second daily run leaves Sabarmati at 5:05 PM, reaching Bechraji at 6:48 PM and Mehsana at 8:25 PM, providing significant relief to daily travelers.

Context

New rail connections of this scale are typically introduced to boost regional trade, tourism, and industrial movement by linking smaller manufacturing and religious hubs directly to long-distance trunk routes. Daily MEMU services in industrializing belts help absorb growing commuter traffic as local employment centers expand outward from major cities.