The Modi government has fulfilled a long-pending demand of the Ravidassia community by introducing the Sant Ravidas Express, the first direct AC train connecting Amritsar and Varanasi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the inaugural train from Jalandhar Cantt railway station at 3.40 pm on 17th July.
The new train has been launched ahead of the 650th Parkash Purab of Guru Ravidas, which will be celebrated at his birthplace, Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi. The announcement also comes a few months after the Prime Minister met Sant Niranjan Dass, the head of the influential Dera Sachkhand Ballan.
Train to make travel easier for lakhs of devotees
Every year, lakhs of devotees, especially from the Doaba region of Punjab, travel to Seer Govardhanpur to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. An even bigger gathering is expected next year during the saint’s 650th birth anniversary, for which a special tent city is also being planned.
Members of the Ravidassia community have been seeking a direct train on this route for years, particularly one with air-conditioned coaches. The Sant Ravidas Express is expected to make the journey more comfortable and reduce the heavy rush seen during the annual celebrations.
Route, schedule and stoppages
The 18-coach Sant Ravidas Express will run between Amritsar (Chheharta) and Varanasi on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with the return journey taking place the following day. The train will cover a distance of 1,048.33 kilometres and stop at 12 stations Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, Sultanpur, Jaunpur City and Varanasi.
Railway officials said that while several trains from Jammu Tawi, Ferozepur and Amritsar already pass through Varanasi on their way to other destinations, there has never been a train originating from Amritsar with Varanasi as its final destination.
Modern coaches and passenger-friendly facilities
The train has three AC coaches, including two AC 3-tier coaches and one AC 2-tier coach. It also includes seven sleeper coaches, six second-class general coaches, and one coach for persons with disabilities.
Passengers will get several modern facilities, including ergonomic berths, bio-vacuum toilets, CCTV surveillance, and improved safety features designed to make the journey more comfortable.
The community welcomes the move
Welcoming the launch, Sat Paul Virdi, former General Secretary of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, thanked Prime Minister Modi and said the new train would greatly help devotees travelling during Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
He said the community has repeatedly requested five free special trains from Punjab during the annual celebrations because the existing trains are unable to handle the large number of pilgrims.
Virdi also pointed out that the special Begampura Express, which currently operates during the festival, is a non-AC train, and the entire cost of running it between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 40 lakh is borne by the Dera Sachkhand Ballan.
Significance for Punjab
The launch of the Sant Ravidas Express comes at an important time, with the 650th birth anniversary year of Guru Ravidas coinciding with the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled in 2027.
Dalits make up around 41-42 % of Punjab’s population, while the Ravidassia community, mainly based in the Doaba region, accounts for nearly 31-32 % of the state’s Dalit population. Dera Sachkhand Ballan remains one of the most influential religious centres for the community and holds significant social influence among Dalit voters in the state.
