Raipur–Jabalpur Express flagged off: Train service to boost trade, tourism across 3 states – check route, timings

RAIPUR: The new Raipur–Jabalpur Express was flagged off from Raipur railway station on Sunday, enhancing connectivity between Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

The express service offers a faster and more convenient route for travelers between Raipur, Gondia, and Jabalpur, with 15 coaches including one AC chair car, four chair cars, eight general coaches, one power car, and one SLR coach.Regular service for train number 11701 will depart from Raipur at 2:45 pm and arrive in Jabalpur at 10:45 pm.Train number 11702 will depart from Jabalpur at 6 am and reach Raipur at 1:50 pm. This new service will be helpful for business travellers, students, tourists, and daily commuters.

It will also improve access to tourist destinations like Nandanvan Zoological Park, Maa Bamleshwari Temple, Kanha National Park, and Bhedaghat.Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh flagged off the train from Raipur railway station. The new service, which will connect three states, was launched virtually by Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Mansukh Mandaviya from Bhavnagar, Gujarat.

At the virtual launch, the Rewa-Pune (Hadapsar) Express and Bhavnagar Terminus-Ayodhya Express were also inaugurated.Chief minister Sai said the new train was a gift to the people of Chhattisgarh from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He thanked them on behalf of the state's 3 crore people. He said that Chhattisgarh's rail budget had increased by 21 times in the last decade, with an allocation of Rs 6,900 crore this year.

He also highlighted that rail projects worth more than Rs 47,000 crore are underway in the state.Under the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme', 32 railway stations in Chhattisgarh are being redeveloped at a cost of Rs 680 crore. The chief minister mentioned that new rail projects have been sanctioned for the Naxal-affected Bastar region, including the Rowghat-Jagdalpur rail line. He added that the new train service would boost tourism, education, and trade between Raipur and Jabalpur. Pilgrimage sites like Dongargarh's Maa Bamleshwari temple and Bhedaghat in Madhya Pradesh will now be more accessible.The Assembly Speaker described the launch of the Raipur-Jabalpur Express as a historic event that will strengthen connectivity between Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. He said the train would cover the 410-km journey in just 8 hours. Passengers will now be able to travel easily to Gondia, Balaghat, and Jabalpur, which will also give a push to regional trade and tourism. He pointed out that the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' is redeveloping 32 stations, and passenger amenities are being increased at major stations like Raipur, Bilaspur, and Durg.