Tatanagar–Jaipur inaugural train flagged off; regular service date awaited
PINAKI MAJUMDAR Jamshedpur, October 26: Rail connectivity between Jharkhand and Rajasthan received a boost on Monday with the launch of an inaugural…
PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, October 26: Rail connectivity between Jharkhand and Rajasthan received a boost on Monday with the launch of an inaugural special train connecting Tatanagar with Khatipura, near Jaipur. However, passengers are still awaiting an official announcement on the commencement of regular services.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off train number 08181, the Tatanagar–Khatipura inaugural special, virtually from Tatanagar railway station at 2 pm.
Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato and senior railway officials of the Chakradharpur division were present at the station for the occasion.
The train is part of the Santragachi–Tatanagar–Khatipura service being introduced by South Eastern Railway. A corresponding inaugural special from Santragachi was also scheduled to be flagged off separately.
The new connection is expected to offer passengers an additional travel option to Jaipur and several other destinations along the route. However, railway authorities have yet to announce when regular services will begin or release a detailed timetable.
According to information released by South Eastern Railway, the train will halt at several important stations in Jharkhand, including Chandil, Purulia, Muri, Ranchi, Lohardaga, Tori, Latehar, Barwadih, Daltonganj and Garhwa Road.
The proposed stoppages are expected to benefit passengers from Ranchi, Lohardaga, Latehar, Palamu and Garhwa districts, as well as those travelling from Tatanagar and adjoining areas.
After passing through Kharagpur in West Bengal, the train will reach Tatanagar before proceeding towards Chandil and other destinations in Jharkhand. It will then travel through Bihar and Uttar Pradesh before reaching Rajasthan.
In Bihar, the route includes Jhapla, Dehri-on-Sone, Sasaram, Bhabua Road and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction.
The train will subsequently pass through Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Kanpur Central and Tundla in Uttar Pradesh before heading towards Rajasthan.
In Rajasthan, the scheduled stoppages include Kherli, Mandawar Mahwa Road, Bandikui and Dausa, before the train reaches Khatipura, near Jaipur.
Regular schedule remains unclear
For the inaugural journey, locomotive pilot Bhupendra Kumar and assistant locomotive pilot B. Majhi have been assigned operational duties, while train manager Deepak Sharma will oversee train operations.
The launch marks an additional rail link between eastern India and Rajasthan, with potential benefits for passengers travelling for business, tourism, education and personal commitments.
However, the inaugural run does not, by itself, confirm the commencement of a regular passenger service.
Details regarding operating days, departure and arrival timings, journey duration, coach composition and ticket reservations are still awaited.
Passengers will need to wait for an official notification from South Eastern Railway before planning journeys on the new service. The regular timetable and ticket availability will determine when travellers across Jharkhand can begin using the additional rail connection to Jaipur.
