Mumbai-Bengaluru sleeper Vande Bharat likely to run via Pune and Solapur, draft plan shows
The Railway Board's draft plan has a six-day-a-week service covering 1,137 km in 15 to 16 hours, but Kolhapur, Sangli, Belagavi and Hubballi miss out.
The proposed route, timetable and likely stops of the long-awaited Mumbai-Bengaluru sleeper Vande Bharat Express have emerged from the Railway Board's draft plan. The train is likely to run via Pune and Solapur.
According to the draft prepared by the Railway Board, the train may run through Solapur. Passengers in Solapur are enthusiastic, while those in Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Belagavi are upset.
The proposed route is Mumbai-Pune-Solapur. As a result, Miraj, Sangli, Satara, Karad and Kolhapur in western Maharashtra will not get direct connectivity on this train. Belagavi, Hubballi, Dharwad and Davangere in Karnataka will also not benefit directly from the fast train. Elected representatives and passengers in these areas had demanded that the sleeper Vande Bharat be routed via Miraj and Belagavi. With the Solapur route getting preference, there is a feeling that western Maharashtra has lost a major opportunity.
Under the proposal, the train will cover a total of 1,137 km and is likely to take about 15 to 16 hours. It may have 11 stops: CSMT Mumbai, Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Wadi, Raichur, Guntakal, Anantapur, Dharmavaram and KSR Bengaluru.
As per the Railway Board proposal, the sleeper Vande Bharat will run six days a week, in both directions between Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Train No. 27652 from Bengaluru to Mumbai will leave Bengaluru at 10 pm and may reach Mumbai CSMT at 1:50 pm the next day. This service is proposed to run on all days except Monday. Train No. 27651 from Mumbai to Bengaluru will leave Mumbai CSMT at 2:50 pm and reach Bengaluru at 10:30 am the next day. This service is proposed to run on all days except Tuesday.
It will be an all-AC sleeper train, likely with three classes: 3-tier AC, 2-tier AC and 1-tier AC, or first class. Passengers will be able to choose tickets according to their budget and need.
Based on the information available so far, the estimated fares are Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,500 in 3-tier AC, Rs 3,200 to Rs 3,600 in 2-tier AC and Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500 in 1-tier AC / first class. These fares are only estimates. The actual fare will be clear only after the Railways issues its official fare chart.
If the train runs via Solapur, passengers in Solapur and along this route will benefit greatly. But passengers in Miraj, Sangli, Satara, Karad, Kolhapur, Belagavi, Hubballi, Dharwad and Davangere will not get a direct service, so the demand for running the train through these areas may gain strength again. The route, timetable, stops and fares are based on proposed information and may change after the Railways' official announcement.
