Tejas Navale
Pune, May 24, 2025: The much-anticipated launch of Vande Bharat Express services from Nagpur to Mumbai and Pune is one step closer to reality. The railway administration has completed trial runs for both routes, and services are expected to begin shortly. Central Railway General Manager Dharamveer Meena informed Members of Parliament that the trains will be operational once the final inspection report is received. Two separate services—Nagpur-Pune-Nagpur and Nagpur-Mumbai—are in the pipeline.
In a significant push for the services, a meeting of MPs from the Nagpur and Bhusawal divisions was held at the Samadhan Hall in the Divisional Railway Manager’s office. The session was presided over by GM Dharamveer Meena, who engaged with the parliamentarians on pending rail issues and regional demands. The MPs reiterated their long-standing demand to introduce the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains from Nagpur to Pune and Mumbai at the earliest.
The meeting witnessed strong sentiments over the delay in launching the Vande Bharat Express on the Nagpur-Pune route, despite earlier decisions taken in its favour. Among those present were MPs Dr. Dinesh Bachhav, Rajabhau (Parag) Vaje (Nashik), Bhaskar Bhagre (Dindori), Balwant Wankhede (Amravati), Bunty Sahu (Chhindwara), Shyamkumar Barve (Ramtek), Sanjay Deshmukh (Pavatmal-Washim), Darshan Chaudhari (Hoshangabad), Amar Kale (Wardha), and Anup Dhotre (Akola).
MP Shyamkumar Barve used the occasion to demand a new railway line connecting Ramtek to Gotegaon, while MP Amar Kale pressed for the construction of a railway bridge in Wardha district.
Once operational, the Nagpur-Pune Vande Bharat Express is expected to significantly cut down travel time—by at least one to one-and-a-half hours. The high-speed service will run six days a week, with one day reserved for essential maintenance and overhaul. Currently, Pune is served by three Vande Bharat routes: Pune-Solapur, Pune-Kolhapur, and Pune-Hubli.
MPs expressed optimism that passengers’ long-standing demands would finally be met with the commencement of these new services. The meeting also reviewed major redevelopment works underway at Nagpur and Ajni railway stations, with officials assuring that progress is being closely monitored.
