‘Nagpur Rly Stn redevelopment project to take one more year, no new train services till then’

 

 

Introduction of new train services ex-Nagpur in near future is quite difficult as the ongoing station redevelopment work is going to stretch till end of 2026. Stating the same, visiting Central Railway General Manager Vivek Gupta however emphasised that Nagpur is an important junction of Indian Railways and would remain so in future also, as it's trajectory of being zero mile of country, makes it indispensable. However asked as to why then constantly trains marked for Nagpur get diverted, the General Manager said the same does not any way hamper the connectivity and also claimed that even station quota remains undiminished.

 

Interacting with mediapersons after annual safety inspection, he further added that extension of trains is administrative decision and same relates to more fruitful use of the rake. But when pointed out that even smaller stations like Chhindwara has two direct linkage to national capital while the trains from Nagpur gets diverted to other smaller station, the General Manager cited Train on Demand (ToD) concept to justify the extensions. He also underlined that Nagpur has four Vande Bharat trains, the only station in the country which even Mumbai does not boast off. As to Nagpur station, he said nearly 60 per cent work stands complete, especially the arrival lounge on Eastern side is complete, along side the administrative building behind DRM office. Similarly, Gupta emphasised that foundation work at six platforms at station is complete and at platform 1 and 2 is going to start soon.

 

Thereafter concourse work is going to be start. As to Ajni station, the four new platforms is going to increase the capacity of the division and once all these work gets wrapped-up, a number of new services can be started. Further the two pit lines at Ajni and station building works are expected to be completed by April 2026. Central Railway is first prioritising completion of station development works at Nagpur and Ajni and then only concentrate on Godhni. Till that time 3rd line on Godhni-Nagpur would also complete and then only any shifting of trains to the new suburban station can be contemplated. To a question about plan to augment train services to Pune and Mumbai direction, the General Manager said as to Pune with completion of third line in Jalgaon-Manmad and doubling of Daund section, in near future additional services are contemplated.

 

About Mumbai the railway is going to study the booking pattern and then take decision. As to poor response to Bilaspur Vande Bharat, Gupta said they too have noticed the booking ratio but still want to give additional time so that demand picks-up before deciding on curtailing the rake composition. In next two years majority of ongoing expansion work to augment track capacity are going to be completed, like the one in ghat section of Nagpur Division ahead of Dharakho, the 3rd line on Wardha-Ballarshah and also full utilisatoin of Nagpur-Wardha 3rd and 4th line. Thereafter travellers can look forward to more faster train services through Central India. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Vinayak Garg, senior officers from Zonal Headquarters and from division were also present.