Nagpur: The Nagpur-Indore Vande Bharat Express has successfully completed one year of operations, marking a significant milestone since its extension to Nagpur on October 9 last year.
Over the course of 14 months, the train has generated approximately Rs 17 crore in revenue. Initially, the train operated between Indore and Bhopal, but due to lower-than-expected passenger numbers, the route was extended to Nagpur, a decision that proved highly successful.
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The Indore-Bhopal Vande Bharat service was launched on June 28, 2023. However, due to high ticket prices, the train failed to attract a large number of passengers, with an average occupancy rate of only 25-30%.
During a visit to Indore last year, where Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was serving as the in-charge for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, options to extend the Indore-Bhopal route to either Nagpur or Jabalpur were presented to him. Ultimately, Nagpur was chosen, and since the extension, the train’s occupancy has risen to around 70% on regular days, making it one of the better-performing Vande Bharat trains in terms of passenger load. During festival seasons or summer vacations, securing a confirmed seat on the train becomes quite difficult.
The semi-high-speed train consists of eight coaches, including one Executive AC Chair Car and seven AC Chair Cars.
According to the Railways, the Indore-Nagpur Vande Bharat earned close to Rs 17 crore in revenue from June 2023 (when operations began) to August 31, 2024. With the inclusion of revenue figures from September and October, this amount is expected to increase further.
Experts in railway operations have suggested that the utility of the Indore-Nagpur Vande Bharat could be enhanced if it were linked with the Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat. Currently, the Bilaspur Vande Bharat departs from Nagpur before the Indore Vande Bharat arrives. Aligning the schedules of these two trains would provide passengers with a better travel link between Chhattisgarh and other destinations.
Experts also believe that new Vande Bharat routes should be introduced from Indore to Surat via Vadodara and from Indore to Jaipur, to further expand the train’s utility and passenger base.
