en.Wedoany.com Reported - Madhya Pradesh is expanding its railway network for the 2028 Kumbh Mela (Simhastha). Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated the newly built Nishatpura Railway Station in Bhopal and launched stopping and originating services at the station. Nishatpura is the fourth major railway station in Bhopal and currently provides stops for two long-distance trains.

The station was built at a cost of 140 million rupees and is expected to reduce travel time for passengers between New Delhi, Ujjain, and Indore, allowing them to board directly here without needing to go to Bhopal's main station. Newly added stops include the Dr Ambedkar Nagar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Malwa Express and the Veraval–Jabalpur Express, while the Malwa Express also originates from this station. Local officials stated that the additional capacity will enhance operational efficiency and passenger convenience in the surrounding areas.

Mohan Yadav noted that over the past 12 years, Indian Railways has carried out large-scale expansion and modernization in Madhya Pradesh, introducing modern trains and achieving 100% railway electrification. The railway budget allocation for Madhya Pradesh has increased from 6.32 billion rupees during 2009-2014 to 152.88 billion rupees for the fiscal year 2026-27. Projects currently underway across the state have a total value of 1.18 trillion rupees, with plans to manufacture modern railway coaches near Bhopal. This expansion is also seen as a boost to trade, agriculture, and freight transport.

Since 2014, approximately 2,800 kilometers of new tracks have been laid in Madhya Pradesh, with the construction pace rising from 4 kilometers per day to 34 kilometers per day. These upgrades are aimed at easing congestion during large religious gatherings, with the 2028 Kumbh Mela expected to attract nearly 400 million devotees.