Mathura-Aligarh rail link survey begins to connect key Uttar Pradesh cities

Final location survey underway for Mathura-Aligarh line

Indian Railways has officially commenced the final location survey for a direct railway line connecting Mathura and Aligarh, advancing a major connectivity upgrade in western Uttar Pradesh.

The proposed direct link will run via Medu junction, situated on the Mathura-Kasganj section of the North Eastern Railway. Despite the two key commercial and cultural hubs sitting just 60 km apart, passengers travelling between Mathura and Aligarh have long relied on road transport or multi-leg train journeys.

The initiative follows a formal proposal submitted by Mathura MP Hema Malini in a letter on September 14 to the General Manager of North Central Railway. The proposal was subsequently discussed during a regional coordination meeting chaired by General Manager Naresh Pal Singh alongside Members of Parliament representing the Agra Division.

Boosting regional infrastructure and commuter speed

The project is designed to cut travel times significantly and streamline daily transit between two of the state's vital economic and pilgrimage corridors.

"The proposed rail link will ease travel between the cities and will reduce the commuting time between the two cities significantly," Hema Malini stated, pointing to the key role the direct line will play for local commuters.

By closing this long-standing 60 km gap, the initiative aligns with the government's systematic push to strengthen regional rail infrastructure, eliminate transit bottlenecks, and modernize rail connectivity across tier-two cities.

Vande Bharat Express extension under active review

Alongside the survey for the new route, Indian Railways is also evaluating a proposal to extend the semi-high-speed Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express to Mathura.

According to Janardhan Sharma, parliamentary representative for the Mathura MP, railway officials confirmed that extending the flag-bearer train service will be examined as soon as required maintenance facilities for Vande Bharat rakes are established at Mathura station.

Developing suitable technical support facilities at Mathura station will pave the way for direct, high-speed rail links connecting Mathura with Varanasi and Agra, boosting regional tourism and passenger convenience.