New Delhi, August 29, 2025 — Indian Railways, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, is set to mark the 350th Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji with a series of nationwide initiatives aimed at honouring the Sikh Guru’s legacy and sacrifices.
At a high-level meeting held at Rail Bhawan on Friday, Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Shri Ravneet Singh, said the commemoration would not only be a tribute to the ninth Sikh Guru but also a way to inspire younger generations with his teachings of religious freedom and human dignity.
“This is the first time Rail Bhawan has hosted a dedicated consultation with Sikh institutions to design such a wide-ranging tribute,” Shri Singh noted, adding that Indian Railways welcomes the suggestions provided by Sikh community leaders.
Key Initiatives Proposed
The Railway Ministry outlined several initiatives under discussion for the Shatabdi celebrations, including:
- Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s salokas to be displayed at railway stations and on trains across India.
- Special commemorative trains to run from different locations during the period.
- Punjabi signboards to be installed at stations in Haryana, Patna and Hazur Sahib.
- Enhanced facilities on pilgrimage trains, including cleanliness drives, langar (community meals) services on select trains such as the Sachkhand Express, and improved amenities for yatris.
- Upgradation of Patna Sahib station, with new lifts, escalators, and better connectivity through daily services and Vande Bharat trains.
- Launch of a special Five Takht train, connecting all the revered Sikh seats for three months.
- Improved connectivity to Hazur Sahib and other Takhts, with modern trains like Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express.
- Proposal to rename Delhi Railway Station as Guru Tegh Bahadur Railway Station.
Broad Participation from Sikh Leadership
The meeting was attended by leading Sikh representatives, including Delhi Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Grewal, Takht Sri Patna Sahib President Jagjot Singh Sohi, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Committee President Jagdish Singh Jhinda, Hazoor Sahib Gurdwara Administrator Dr. Vijay Satbir Singh, former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh, and Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney.
Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Satish Kumar, assured the gathering that the Railway Ministry would “give due consideration to all suggestions and take appropriate steps to ensure the success of the commemorations.”
Senior railway officials, including Member (Infrastructure) Naveen Gulati, Member (Operations & Business Development) Hitendra Malhotra, Northern Railway GM Ashok Kumar Verma, IRCTC CMD Sanjay Kumar Jain, and Ministry of Railways Executive Director Dhananjay Singh, were also present.
The initiatives are expected to be rolled out in phases leading up to the 350th Martyrdom Day, turning Indian Railways into a platform for spreading Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s timeless message of courage, sacrifice, and harmony.
