Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains and two express trains from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, enhancing connectivity between the state and other major cities. These new trains are expected to benefit passengers across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
The Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express will offer a direct train service from Coimbatore to the mineral-rich heartland of Jharkhand for the first time. The Ministry of Railways said the new service has fulfilled a long-standing demand from the region.
"From the loom-towns of the South to the coal-ringed plateaus of the East, Indian Railways has answered a need that this region has carried for decades," the Ministry said in a statement.
Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi will inaugurate 3 #AmritStations and dedicate to the nation the electrified Shoranur - Nilambur Road rail line in Kerala; flag off 5 train services including 2 #AmritBharatExpress in Tamil Nadu.
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 11, 2026
Read more:https://t.co/qaKZ0UvVNL
The weekly train departs Podanur every Saturday morning and reaches Dhanbad by early Monday morning, passing through Salem, Renigunta, Vijayawada, Jharsuguda, and Ranchi. The return service will depart from Dhanbad every Monday.
The second Amrit Bharat Express runs between Nagercoil and Hyderabad. According to the Ministry, the Nagercoil-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express is the first direct Amrit Bharat link connecting the region to Telangana, crossing over twenty districts across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Modi will also inaugurate the Rameswaram-Mangaluru Express and the Tirunelveli-Mangaluru Express, both of which will pass through Coimbatore. Additionally, the Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur-Karaikkudi passenger train, which will benefit at least five districts in the Cauvery Delta, will also be flagged off by the prime minister.
Earlier in Kerala, Modi inaugurated the Palakkad-Pollachi train service, providing farmers and traders in the Tamil Nadu town with a direct rail connection to Kerala.
“For students seeking colleges in Palakkad, for patients needing to reach hospitals in either city, and for daily commuters and traders who have long relied on road travel alone, the new service offers faster, affordable, and cleaner connectivity,” the Ministry added.
