PM Modi to Flag Off Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the inaugural run of the Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express through video link on Saturday. The train will depart from Jalna at 11 am and arrive in Mumbai at 6:45 pm.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually flag off the inaugural run of the Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express through video link on Saturday, December 31, 2022, announced a Central Railway official. The 8-coach service will be flagged off while the Prime Minister addresses a function at the redeveloped Ayodhya Dham railway station in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, he will also flag off two Amrit Bharat and five other Vande Bharat services between different cities.

Inaugural Run and Schedule

In its inaugural run, the 02705 Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat train will tentatively depart from Jalna at 11:00 AM and arrive in Mumbai at 6:45 PM. The train will make stops at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) at 11:55 AM, Manmad Junction at 1:44 PM, Nasik Road at 2:44 PM, Kalyan Junction at 5:06 PM, Thane at 5:28 PM, and Dadar at 5:50 PM before proceeding to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).

From January 1, 2023, the train will depart from CSMT at 1:10 PM and reach Jalna at 8:30 PM. Starting January 2, 2023, it will depart from Jalna at 5:05 AM and reach CSMT at 11:55 AM. The train will operate on all days except Wednesdays.

Connecting Important Cities and Boosting Tourism

Addressing a press conference, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Neeti Sarkar of Nanded division, which includes Jalna, highlighted that the new service will connect important cities like Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, and Nashik to areas like Thane and Mumbai. This connectivity is expected to boost visits to religious and tourist sites such as the Rajur Ganapati Temple in Jalna, Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Shirdi near Manmad.

Features and Amenities

The Vande Bharat Express train will have a seating capacity of 530 and will cover the distance between Jalna and Mumbai in approximately 6 hours and 50 minutes. It will feature one Executive Chair Car and seven Chair Cars. Additionally, the train will be equipped with a black box similar to those found in aircraft, which will record activities in the driver's cab, aiding in investigations of any untoward incidents or accidents.

Significance for Maharashtra

The Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express is Maharashtra's seventh Vande Bharat service, with six of them operated by the Central Railway network. It will be the fifth Vande Bharat service to run from Mumbai. The introduction of this new service is expected to enhance connectivity and provide a faster and more comfortable travel experience for passengers.