Indian Railways is preparing to run around 1,000 special trains called 'Aastha' trains for pilgrims visiting Ayodhya after the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony of Lord Ram's idol. These trains will operate from various locations across India and will offer amenities like security, vegetarian meals, and supervision by railway personnel. The IRCTC is...
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responsible for operating these trains, and they will be launched gradually after receiving approval from the Railway Board. The plan is to run at least one Aastha train from each Lok Sabha constituency to benefit local pilgrims. These trains will have 20 sleeper coaches and fares will be 10-15% lower than regular trains. Aastha trains will stop at Ayodhya Dham Junction, Ayodhya Cantt, and Katra station. Trains coming from Howrah, Asansol, Bardhaman, Munger, and Bhagalpur will stop at Katra station via Gorakhpur. Additional stops will be made at Gorakhpur, Gomtinagar, Lucknow, and Varanasi to manage the expected surge in train traffic. Platform number 1 at Gorakhpur station has been reserved for Aastha trains, and regular trains are being shifted to other platforms. The railway authorities are upgrading the Ramghat Halt and Katra stations, and deploying additional security personnel, engineers, and staff to manage the influx of pilgrims. The IRCTC, under the guidance of the Railway Board, is working on running Aastha trains on various routes and dates to accommodate the expected surge in pilgrims visiting Ayodhya.