‘Vande Bharat Train Offers Passengers the Same Facilities as in Developed Countries’ – Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Pune : Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the Vande Bharat Express train is a source of pride for India, offering Indian passengers the same high-quality facilities available to travelers in developed countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Pune-Hubli Vande Bharat Express by giving the green signal via a television system. Following the inauguration, Fadnavis addressed a gathering at Pune Railway Station. Also present at the event were Deputy Chief Minister and District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Muralidhar Mohol, Minister for Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant (Dada) Patil, MP Medha Kulkarni, MLAs Sunil Kamble, Bhimrao Tapkir, Madhuri Misal, Divisional Railway Manager Indu Dubey, Pune Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosle, and other dignitaries.

Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted three Vande Bharat trains to Maharashtra: Pune-Hubli, Pune-Kolhapur, and Nagpur-Secunderabad. These trains will significantly improve travel speed and comfort for passengers in Maharashtra. He emphasized that the Vande Bharat is an international-standard train, designed and manufactured entirely in India.

Earlier, Union Minister of State Muralidhar Mohol expressed his delight that while 16 Vande Bharat trains are being introduced nationwide, three of them are for Maharashtra, including two for Pune. Over the past ten years, ₹23.64 lakh crore has been invested in railway development. Projects such as new railway stations, the Amrit Yojana, and the Adarsh Railway Station initiative are underway, with around 1,064 stations being renovated as part of these efforts.

Mohol also announced that work on the Pune-Lonavala third and fourth railway lines will begin soon. Both the central and state governments will contribute ₹2,500 crore each, which will reduce travel time between Pune and Mumbai. A proposal for a Pune-Delhi sleeper Vande Bharat train has also been submitted to the Union Railway Minister. In addition, due to space constraints at Pune Railway Station, plans are in place to build a new grand terminal at Uruli Kanchan, and work on this project will commence soon.

Minister Chandrakant (Dada) Patil called the launch of the Pune-Kolhapur and Pune-Hubli Vande Bharat trains a historic moment for Maharashtra’s railway network. These trains will greatly benefit Western Maharashtra, particularly the Pune-Kolhapur corridor, which is home to a strong cooperative movement, numerous industries, and educational institutions. The high-speed, aesthetically appealing trains will allow passengers to make round trips between Kolhapur and Pune in a single day. Patil also praised the Vande Bharat for its pleasant travel experience, fast service, and high-quality food offerings.

Furthermore, Minister Patil noted that Pune recently inaugurated a new terminal at its airport, and the next phase of the metro service will soon be launched by Prime Minister Modi. These developments are improving transportation and travel options in Pune.

MP Medha Kulkarni also shared her thoughts on the occasion, while Divisional Railway Manager Indu Dubey provided an introduction.