The Eastern Bihar Chamber of Commerce is strongly opposing plans to extend the Howrah-Jamalpur Super Express to Patna due to concerns over train punctuality and ticket availability for local passengers. Business leaders and local social groups argue that the proposed route extension will negatively impact regular travellers from Bhagalpur and Jamalpur while failing to solve existing regional connectivity needs. The Eastern Bihar Chamber of Commerce led by President Sharad Salarpuria formally registered its opposition on August 27 and 28 2026. Local organizations are instead demanding a dedicated Vande Bharat Express service between Bhagalpur and Varanasi to boost regional trade and tourism.
The expansion proposal was initiated by Eastern Railway on August 24 2026 and submitted to the Railway Board to improve connectivity for passengers in Eastern Bihar and Santhal Pargana.
The proposal aims to utilize the idle train rake at Jamalpur with a projected schedule featuring a 9:30 PM departure from Howrah a 6:40 AM arrival in Jamalpur and a 6:45 AM departure for Patna. The train would reach Patna Junction at 9:50 AM after stops at Dharhara Abhaipur and Kiul. This idea was initially put forward by former Civil Aviation Ministry member Ashutosh Kumar.
The protest argues that extending the route to Patna will diminish the train prestige and hinder punctuality. Frequent delays and difficulty in securing confirmed tickets for passengers in Bhagalpur and Jamalpur are major worries. Additionally the Munger Seva Manch has joined the opposition warning that the extension could negatively impact local passenger convenience safety and sanitation.
Concurrently the Chamber has renewed its demand for the introduction of a new Vande Bharat Express between Bhagalpur and Varanasi. Supporters of the proposal including Kunj Bihari Jhunjhunwala of the Rail Consumer Consultative Committee in Malda emphasize the necessity of direct rail connectivity.
Direct trains will boost trade and tourism between the two silk-producing regions and facilitate pilgrimage travel to sacred sites like Baba Baidyanath Ajgaibinath Mandar Parvat and Vikramshila. In March 2026 a request for a Vande Bharat or Amrit Bharat train on the Bhagalpur-Varanasi route was among 18 proposals submitted to the Malda Division. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has not yet issued a direct response to this latest protest or the specific demand for the new Vande Bharat service.
