In a significant development for Gujarat’s rail infrastructure, Indian Railways has officially renamed the highly-anticipated Vande Metro as the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the country’s first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service today, a day before his birthday. The new service will connect Bhuj, in Gujarat’s Kutch district, with Ahmedabad, covering a distance of 360 kilometers in just under six hours.
The train, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour, will make key stops at major stations including Anjar, Gandhidham, Bhachau, Samakhiali, Halvad, Dhrangadhra, Viramgam, Chandlodiya, Sabarmati, and its final stop at Kalupur in Ahmedabad.
Operating six days a week, the service will remain closed on Saturdays for Bhuj departures and Sundays for Ahmedabad departures. The first train departs Bhuj at 5:05 AM and reaches Ahmedabad by 10:50 AM, while the return journey leaves Ahmedabad at 5:30 PM, arriving in Bhuj at 11:20 PM. The train has a passenger capacity of 2,058 standing and 1,150 seated, featuring cushioned sofas for added comfort. Fully air-conditioned, the train boasts modern amenities such as automatic sliding doors and engines at both ends, making it more similar to suburban metro services than the Vande Bharat Express.
The fare structure is also traveler-friendly, with a minimum fare set at ₹30 (inclusive of GST) and a one-way journey from Bhuj to Ahmedabad priced at around ₹430 (excluding GST). Additionally, frequent travelers can benefit from weekly, fortnightly, and monthly season tickets, offering savings of ₹7, ₹15, and ₹20 per single journey, respectively.
Sources By Agencies