Look what just chugged into Delhi railway station, all the way from Bihar

The train started from Darbhanga junction on Thursday morning with the exterior of its nine compartments donning new look, as the traditional dark blue colour coaches had been completely replaced and repainted with traditional Mithila art work, also called Madhubani painting.

The Bihar Sampark Kranti Express that chugged into a Delhi railway station on Friday was a visual treat. Its nine coaches are adorned with Mithila art.

The new look Bihar Sampark Kranti Superfast Express at Darbhanga railway station before being flagged off on Thursday.(HT photo)

The train started from Darbhanga junction on Thursday morning with the exterior of its nine compartments donning new look, as the traditional dark blue colour coaches had been completely replaced and repainted with traditional Mithila art work, also called Madhubani painting, to give them a vibrant look.

“Bihar Sampark Kranti turns out to be first such train of East Central Railway (ECR), rather in Indian Railways to get a complete makeover showcasing traditional artwork in the form of Mithila painting. It is a unique experiment to promote the local art and culture on a larger canvas and expose the railway passengers to nuances of artwork,” Samastipur divisional rail manager (DRM) RK Jain told mediapersons on the occasion of departure of train. “It is a journey of traditional art from heart of Mithila to national heart,” he added.

The artists who drew the Madhubani paintings on train compartments.

Surprisingly, the rolling out of nine coaches, comprising a pantry car, four AC coaches, three sleeper class and one general compartment, was done without any pomp and show at Darbhanga junction, the origin station for this premier New Delhi bound train. The DRM sent off the train and boarded the AC compartment on his return journey to Samastipur.

All the coaches of the 24 rake train would be replaced by compartments adorning Mithila painting in phase-wise manner and gradually it’s interiors would also be designed with aesthetically decorated Mithila art, said a senior railway official. According to information, one rake of Bihar Sampark Kranti, comprising 24 coaches, is planned to be painted with Mithila painting after railway board chairman granted nod to showcase the artwork when he show a glimpse of Madhubani station adorned with Mithila painting all over at an exhibition held in Patna in April.

Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi Rajdhani express is another train to get a makeover under the pilot project, an official said.

“It took four days for a batch of 30 all women local artists to paint a coach. The painting work by them in the first phase had commenced here on July 20,” said a railway official Chandrashekhar Prasad Singh. It would increase the opportunity for Mithila artistes and would ultimately benefit Mithila region as a whole, he added.  

If this experiment evokes good response from public, the railways may consider it to be adopted on some other trains as well. The theme of painting work is mainly based on village life, transportation system, dowry eradication, flora and fauna, fish, village life, culinary chores etc.