In a major boost for rail commuters in Maharashtra, the long-awaited Pune-Nagpur-Pune Vande Bharat Express has received official approval from the Ministry of Railways. The Central Railway Board has commenced operational planning, with services expected to begin within the next month.
The proposal was greenlit during a high-level virtual meeting chaired by Satish Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Railway Board. The session reviewed key railway projects under Central and Western Railway zones, including Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains and various station redevelopment initiatives.
Swapnil Neela, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway (Mumbai), confirmed that route surveys and technical evaluations are underway. “The ministry has initiated discussions for launching the Pune-Nagpur-Pune Vande Bharat Express. The train schedule will be finalised soon after technical assessments,” he said.
The route, connecting western Maharashtra to its northeastern regions, caters to heavy daily passenger traffic, especially between Pune, Akola, Amravati, and Nagpur. A Vande Bharat service on this corridor has been a longstanding public demand for over two years.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently assured swift action and instructed the Railway Board to expedite the launch. At present, Pune is connected by Vande Bharat Express to Solapur, Kolhapur, and Hubballi.
