Vande Bharat to ease rush on congested Nagpur–Pune route

Time of India

5 days ago

Nagpur: More than a decade ago, the Nagpur-Pune trip meant an overnight slog on one of barely 15-20 ageing private buses or a long wait for the few trains available. Today, the corridor is bustling, with 60-70 buses leaving daily, three flights taking off each day, and 31 trains operating weekly.
Yet, travellers still struggle to find budget-friendly, last-minute options, especially during festivals.
The Nagpur–Pune sector is one of the busiest in central India, with most modes of transport running near capacity week after week. The Nagpur-Pune Vande Bharat Express, which will be flagged off virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, promises a quicker 12-hour journey with modern seating coaches and will run six days a week.
Luxury private buses currently charge Rs1,800–Rs2,000, with fares soaring to Rs4,500–Rs5,000 during peak seasons. While they advertise 15-16 hour trips, delays of a couple of hours are common. Against this backdrop, the Vande Bharat's expected fare of around Rs1,500 for AC chair economy stands out, offering same-day arrival, punctuality, and comfort — without the odd-timings of cheaper flights or the tedium of road travel.
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Private bus operator Mahendra Luley acknowledged the new competition. "It will impact our business, but it will mostly depend on the priority of the traveller. If the traveller prefers the bus at his preferred time, he will choose it. The same goes for Vande Bharat," he said.
Rahul Joshi, a Wardha native working in Pune, said, "The Vande Bharat will travel six days a week, which means its frequency is high, and it will also reach the destination within 12 hours and on the same day, making it an important addition."
At least three flights connect Nagpur and Pune daily, costing Rs5,000–Rs10,000. The cheapest departs at 3.40am, forcing passengers to reach the airport in the middle of the night. Afternoon flights, more convenient for most, are priced at Rs8,000–Rs10,000, with festive fares shooting up to Rs15,000 or more.
"While travelling to Pune by air once, I reached the Nagpur airport at around 1.30am as the flight was at 3.40am.
It was a cheaper than other flights. I reached Pune early in the morning. Since I was awake the whole night, my work was hindered," said Piyush Dhone, a regular traveller.
Dhone added that festive or emergency bookings make flights unaffordable. "Bus travel is risky, so I prefer flights or trains. The Vande Bharat will provide an additional option to travellers," he said.
Bharat Kumar Shukla, secretary of Bharatiya Yatri Kendra, welcomed the Vande Bharat service but called for changes.
"The rates are higher than other trains. The railway ministry must introduce sleeper coaches and reduce rates so that it will be more accommodating for middle-class and lower-middle-class passengers," he said.
The Vande Bharat is not only going to serve the travellers from Nagpur and Pune but also the 10 stations where it will stop. Many citizens said now it would be more convenient to travel to Shegaon from Nagpur as it will be just a three hours journey as against five to six hours by road.
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