To accommodate the expected influx of pilgrims for the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22nd, the Indian Railways is fast-tracking the completion of the remaining 44 km of double-line track on the Varanasi-Jaunpur Junction-Ayodhya route. This project is of high priority and is targeted to be finished...
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by the first half of January. The Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, is personally reviewing progress every fortnight. Track laying is complete for 18 km from Shahganj Junction to Bilwai and Tulsi Nagar. Final stage (non-interlocking) work is underway and expected to be finished by December 16th, allowing trains to operate on the second track following a safety inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). The next phase involves laying the second track between Tulsi Nagar-Maliapur-Jaferganj-Akbarpur stations. Around 25% of the overall work remains. The Railways will operate more than a dozen special trains for pilgrims, 70% of which will pass through Varanasi, increasing traffic load on this route. The double-line project aims to ensure smooth train operations during the event. Additionally, double-line track laying between Rudauli-Raujagaon-Pateranga (two block stations) has also been completed, and a safety inspection by CRS is scheduled for December 10th, following which the new line will be operational.