Inauguration of the Nepalganj Road–Bahraich rail section
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday inaugurated the newly converted broad-gauge and electrified railway section connecting Nepalganj Road (Rupaidiha), Nanpara, and Bahraich, flagging off a special train from Rupaidiha to Varanasi. The ceremony took place at the Nepalganj Road railway station in Bahraich, with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw participating virtually from New Delhi.
Vaishnaw said the Bahraich–Nanpara–Nepalganj Road rail section had been integrated into the broad-gauge network. Adityanath thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the railway minister for the project and for announcing four additional train services for the region.
The 56-km rail section was completed at a cost of Rs 730 crore within the stipulated timeframe, fulfilling a long-pending demand of residents, Adityanath said. He said successive governments had ignored the border region, leaving it dependent on metre-gauge connectivity even as railway networks elsewhere in the country were modernised.
Connectivity and regional development
Addressing the gathering, Adityanath said the broad-gauge railway line would significantly improve connectivity between Bahraich and the Nepal border and provide fresh impetus to trade, movement, and regional development. He said the conversion of the railway line from metre gauge to broad gauge and its electrification would transform the connectivity landscape of the border region.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the project, the chief minister said the rail link would strengthen cultural and economic ties between India and Nepal while enhancing connectivity to important religious and tourist destinations, including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and the Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary. He also announced that a new railway line was being laid between Bahraich and Khalilabad and said efforts were underway to improve connectivity between Bahraich and Gorakhpur through Siddharthnagar, Shohratgarh, and Balrampur.
Adityanath said the development reflected the government's commitment to strengthening infrastructure in eastern Uttar Pradesh. He added that previous governments had viewed Rupaidiha merely as a border area and had neglected its development, while the present government considers the region an important gateway to India.
Solidarity with Nepal after flash floods
The inauguration comes days after devastating flash floods in neighbouring Nepal. Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives and destruction caused by the natural disaster, the chief minister said India stands firmly with Nepal in its hour of crisis. He thanked Prime Minister Modi for extending immediate assistance to the neighbouring country.
Nepal was not merely a friendly neighbour but a country with which India shares deep-rooted cultural and civilisational ties, Adityanath said. The present circumstances called for solidarity and support from India, he said.
Historical remarks on Maharaja Suheldev
Referring to the region's history, Adityanath said Bahraich was associated with Maharaja Suheldev, who defeated Salar Masud, the 11th-century Ghaznavid military commander. He referred to Salar Masud Ghazi as a foreign invader and said that in the past, fairs and events were organised in the names of such invaders while the legacy of Maharaja Suheldev, regarded as the pride of Bahraich, was overlooked.
He said the situation had changed now and that events were no longer being organised in the names of foreign invaders. Instead, a grand memorial dedicated to Maharaja Suheldev has been established, attracting visitors from different parts of the country who come to learn about India's history and the region's heritage.