Surat-Udaipur Vande Bharat Flagged Off

SURAT: Surat’s rail connectivity with Rajasthan received a major boost on Gandhi Jayanti as Union Minister C R Patil flagged off the city’s first direct Vande Bharat Express to Udaipur on Thursday, promising faster travel for traders, tourists and pilgrims. The semi-high-speed service will begin regular operations from October 4 and cover the route in around 7 hours and 30 minutes.

The new train will halt at nine major stations across Gujarat and Rajasthan, connecting important commercial, tourist and religious destinations. The stoppages are expected to benefit Surat’s business community and passengers travelling towards Udaipur and Shamlaji.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Patil recalled the transformation of Indian Railways and praised the facilities available on Vande Bharat trains.

“There was a time when travelling by train was difficult. Trains were slow and often unclean. Today, when people travel in Vande Bharat, they feel as if they are travelling abroad,” Patil said.

The train comes equipped with modern passenger amenities, automatic doors, GPS-based passenger information systems and the Kavach safety system.

Patil said the Surat-Udaipur service was approved despite there being no specific public demand for the route.

“The people of Surat had not specifically asked for a Vande Bharat between Surat and Udaipur. When the requirement was placed before the Prime Minister, he understood the need and approved it,” he said, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

He also highlighted the MEMU service between Valsad and Surat and additional railway stoppages secured for the region.

Patil urged citizens to make full use of the new service.

“The government has provided world-class trains and facilities at a cost of crores of rupees. It is now the responsibility of citizens to use these services and ensure that the trains do not run empty,” he said.