Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 11: In a significant announcement aimed at boosting cultural tourism in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accompanied by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, revealed that a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit high-speed train will soon be launched to offer 10-day tours of historical forts and cultural sites associated with the legendary Maratha warrior.
Speaking at a joint press conference, CM Fadnavis said, “The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit Train is going to be started soon. It will be an iconic train. A 10-day tour will be organised in this circuit train which will connect the forts, places and other cultural places related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”
The proposed train aims to celebrate Maharashtra’s rich heritage while also enhancing domestic tourism. This heritage rail initiative is expected to draw visitors from across the country.
Highlighting the state’s railway infrastructure progress, Fadnavis said projects worth Rs 1.73 lac cr are currently underway in Maharashtra, with Rs 17,000 cr being invested in Mumbai and other key regions.
He pointed out that the state has received Rs 23,778 cr in the 2025–26 Railway Budget, a stark contrast to the Rs 10,000 cr allocation during the entire 10-year tenure of the previous UPA government. “Now, under the BJP-led Central government, Maharashtra gets around Rs 23,000 to Rs 25,000 cr every year,” he added.
Union Minister Vaishnaw also underlined the major rail transformation taking place in Maharashtra, including bullet train corridors, station redevelopment projects, and several railway line doubling schemes. He said, “PM Modi has given Maharashtra at least 20 times more budget allocation compared to the UPA era, which will transform the rail network of the state.”
Among key projects highlighted were:
• The Gondia-Balharshah railway line doubling, which has received an allocation of Rs 4,819 cr, a major boost for trade connectivity in Vidarbha with neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
• Redevelopment plans for 132 railway stations in Maharashtra, including the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
• Corridor expansions such as the Balharshah-Gondia and Jalna-Jalgaon lines.
Fadnavis emphasized the strategic importance of the Gondia-Balharshah route, stating that it would “greatly benefit Vidarbha’s economy due to its vital trade links with Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.”
The upcoming Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit train is expected to be a cultural milestone, offering an immersive experience into the legacy of the Maratha icon, while further enhancing Maharashtra’s standing on the tourism and infrastructure front.