Ludhiana: The Knit and Fab Hosiery Association has urged the railway ministry to introduce a direct train from Amritsar to Ayodhya, with a stop at Ludhiana, to facilitate pilgrims and boost religious tourism between two major spiritual hubs.
In a letter to the Union minister of state for railways, industrialist Vipan Vinayak of the BJP advocated for the train route, highlighting its potential to connect Amritsar — home of the revered Golden Temple — and Ayodhya, associated with Lord Ram. Both destinations draw lakhs of pilgrims annually, and a direct train would provide a more convenient and comfortable journey for devotees, he argued.
“Pilgrims currently face long travel hours and connectivity challenges due to the lack of a direct link. A dedicated train would not only improve accessibility but also promote religious tourism,” Vinayak wrote in his letter. He added that the proposed train service would align with the government’s initiative to enhance infrastructure for pilgrims.
Vinayak emphasised that the growing number of visitors to both cities necessitates efficient rail services. “A direct train would also boost the local economies of Amritsar and Ayodhya by encouraging more travellers,” he said, urging the ministry to expedite the proposal.
The request comes amid BJP politicians’ offering free train travel to Ayodhya for Punjab residents, a scheme which they had come up with before the parliamentary elections but had to defer due to a surge in the visitors to the newly inaugurated Ram Temple. With only two trains running from other cities, Punjab’s residents are still wait for their chance to pay respects at the temple.
The association hopes that a new direct route will soon provide easier access for pilgrims and support the region’s religious tourism.
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