Patna: The much-awaited Vande Bharat Express connecting Patna and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur is one step closer to reality, with East Central Railway having sent the proposed route to Northeast Railway for clearance. Once the No Objection Certificate is issued, the route will be forwarded to the Railway Board for final approval.
As per the proposal, the train will depart from Gorakhpur at 6am and reach Patna by 11am, passing through Narkatiaganj, Bettiah, Bapudham Motihari, Muzaffarpur, and Hajipur. On its return journey, it will depart Patna at 2pm and reach Gorakhpur by 8pm. The train will halt at Muzaffarpur for 10 minutes, providing a key link for commuters and travellers in north Bihar.
The total distance of approximately 400 kilometres is expected to be covered in under five hours. The service will run six days a week, and until a dedicated facility is established in Patna, maintenance will be handled at Gorakhpur Junction.
The announcement follows the allocation of Vande Bharat trains to Bihar in the Union Budget 2025–26, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighting enhanced rail connectivity in the region.
According to CPRO Saraswati Chandra, the Vande Bharat operations have entered the planning phase, and formal clearances are expected in due course.
