In a development poised to bring significant relief to thousands of daily rail commuters on the Nagpur-Pune-Nagpur route, the long-awaited Vande Bharat Express may soon be introduced. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently suggested the potential launch of the high-speed train service along this heavily traveled corridor.
According to a media report, the minister’s remarks were made during the inauguration of two new train services—the Hadapsar-Jodhpur Express and the MGR Chennai Central–Bhagat Ki Kothi Express—held just two days ago. Speaking at the event, Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that productive discussions had taken place with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the launch of the Pune-Nagpur Vande Bharat Express..
This development has sparked a wave of optimism among rail passengers who regularly endure the grueling 14–16 hour journey between Nagpur and Pune. With consistently high passenger traffic throughout the year, the demand for a faster and more comfortable option like the Vande Bharat Express has been longstanding.
At present, many travelers struggle to secure confirmed tickets and are often forced to travel with whatever seating is available—or resort to lengthy and exhausting bus journeys, which are both costly and physically demanding.
For over two years, passenger associations and public representatives have consistently appealed to the Railway Ministry to introduce a Vande Bharat train on this route. However, with the sole authority to launch new train services resting with the central ministry, local railway officials, despite sharing the same aspiration, were unable to act on the demand.
Now, with Minister Vaishnaw’s recent remarks and confirmation of constructive talks with the state leadership, efforts appear to be gaining momentum to finally bring this long-awaited service to fruition.
However, according to media report, senior railway officials stated, “Central Railway has no information about this development. We had already submitted a proposal for a sleeper Vande Bharat to the Mumbai headquarters last year.”
Passengers Eagerly Await Early Launch
If introduced, the Pune-Nagpur-Pune Vande Bharat Express will become the fourth Vande Bharat train to originate from Nagpur. The city’s high-speed rail services began two and a half years ago with the launch of the Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express. This was followed by connections to Ujjain and Indore, and last year, the unexpected introduction of the Nagpur-Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express. The proposed Pune service is expected to strengthen Nagpur’s status as a prominent Vande Bharat hub. With anticipation growing, passengers are hopeful for an early launch.
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