India approves Janakpur-Ayodhya train service ahead of PM Shah's India visit
Summary
India has approved a weekly train service linking Janakpur Dham and Ayodhya Cantt, with the route expected to be inaugurated during Prime Minister Balendra Shah's visit to India. The service is aimed at boosting religious tourism, cross-border mobility and economic activity along the route.
Key Points
- Indian Railways has approved a weekly Janakpur Dham–Ayodhya Cantt train service covering 604 km across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
- The train will stop at several towns including Jaynagar, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Raxaul, Narkatiaganj, Gorakhpur, Basti, Mankapur and Ayodhya Dham.
- The service is expected to support religious tourism linked to the Ramayana tradition and improve cross-border mobility for tourism, business, education and family visits.
- The initiative is also seen as a way to boost tourism, economic activity and people-to-people ties between Nepal and India.
