In anticipation of the upcoming inauguration ceremony of the newly built Ram Mandir next month, the Ambala Division of Railways has revealed plans to operate special trains connecting Amritsar, Bathinda, and Chandigarh to the sacred city of Ayodhya.
To facilitate travel for devotees, Ayodhya will be connected to various regions and cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata, Nagpur, Lucknow, and Jammu.
Special trains to Ayodhya
Ambala Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Mandeep Bhatia shared details about the preparations, stating, “The Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya is nearing completion, with the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla scheduled for January 22. Recognizing that a significant number of people prefer railway travel, we have made necessary arrangements.”
Bhatia added, “Special trains to Ayodhya will be scheduled from Amritsar, Bathinda, and Chandigarh, and the timetable will be released soon. Additional ticket counters may also be established.”
IRCTC gears up for inauguration of Ram Mandir
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is also gearing up to provide round-the-clock catering services to meet the needs of the large number of pilgrims visiting Ayodhya during this period.
Additional ticket counters to be set up
Addressing the option of setting up new ticket counters, DRM Bhatia mentioned, “While 80 percent of people lean towards e-ticketing for the convenience of booking from home, supplementary counters can be arranged if required.”
Moreover, theMinistry of Railwaysis also set to introduce a train for Mumbaikars to visit the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Currently, there are no direct train services connecting Mumbai to Ayodhya. A new special train is being introduced for a dedicated journey, departing from Dadarrailwaystation with a focus on the pilgrimage to Lord Ram.
The inauguration of the temple, set to open its doors to the public in January, will witness the consecration of Lord Sri Ram’s idol.
According to temple officials, the consecration ceremony is scheduled to span seven days, commencing on January 16. As preparations intensify, the collaborative efforts of the Railways and related authorities aim to ensure a smooth and secure pilgrimage experience for devotees traveling to Ayodhya for this auspicious occasion.