PM Modi launches 3 Vande Bharat trains in Maharashtra; Fadnavis expresses thanks

While attending the Vande Bharat inaugural ceremony at Pune railway station, Devendra Fadnavis, highlighting the progress of railways in Maharashtra, referred to the VB trains as a gift from the PM to the state.

Train no 20674 will run every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from September 18, departing Pune at 2:15 pm and arriving in Kolhapur at 7:40 pm the same day. (Express photo by Pavan)

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday for giving the green signal to three new Vande Bharat (VB) trains on key routes in Maharashtra: Kolhapur-Pune, Pune-Hubli and Nagpur-Secunderabad. This brings the total number of Vande Bharat trains in Maharashtra to 11.

While attending the Vande Bharat inaugural ceremony at Pune railway station, Fadnavis, highlighting the progress of railways in Maharashtra, referred to the VB trains as a gift from the PM to the state.

As per railway officials, two trains connecting Pune will have eight coaches and will operate three days a week. Train 20669, Hubli-Pune Vande Bharat Express, will run every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday starting September 18. It will depart from Hubli at 5 am and arrive in Pune at 1:30 pm the same day. On its return train 20670, Pune-Hubli Vande Bharat Express, will operate every Thursday, Saturday and Monday starting September 19, departing Pune at 2:15 pm and reaching Hubli at 10:45 pm.

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Train no 20674 will run every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from September 18, departing Pune at 2:15 pm and arriving in Kolhapur at 7:40 pm the same day. For the return journey train No 20673 will operate every Thursday, Saturday and Monday from September 19, departing from Kolhapur at 8:15 am and arriving in Pune at 1:30 pm.

The Pune-Kolhapur route will halt at Miraj, Sangli, Kirloskarwadi, Karad and Satara, while the Pune-Hubli route will stop at Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi and Dharwad.
Bookings for both trains have commenced today at all computerised reservation centres and on the official website www.irctc.co.in.

In addition, the PM also flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Metro (Namo Bharat Rapid Rail) train from Bhuj to Ahmedabad. Other VB trains launched on Monday include VB Agra Cantt to Banaras, and VB Durg to Visakhapatnam, and the first 20-coach VB from Varanasi to Delhi.

Shubham Tigga

Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More

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