The Indian Ministry of Railways has approved the introduction of the Amrit Bharat Express, which will connect Hadapsar in Pune to Banaras (Varanasi), significantly enhancing rail connectivity to North India. This decision was communicated by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to Murlidhar Mohol, the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation. The new train service aims to reduce congestion at Pune railway station and provide faster, more direct travel options for passengers, particularly senior citizens traveling to pilgrimage sites. Additionally, the existing Pune–Jabalpur special train will be converted into a regular service, now named the Pune–Jabalpur Express (train numbers 20161/20162). This change will facilitate easier advance reservations and lower fares typically associated with special trains, thus offering relief to many passengers. Commuters have expressed that the new service will save them time and effort, fulfilling a long-standing demand for direct train access to Varanasi.