Maha polls to delay launch of A’bad-Mumbai Duranto Exp

The launch of fully air-conditioned, non-stop Duranto Express between Ahmedabad and Mumbai is likely to be delayed by at least two months. The coming assembly elections in Maharashtra and non-availability of additional coaches for the express train are the reasons attributed to the delay.

The Duranto Express, linking major cities in the country in quick time, is scheduled for a September 14 launch when railway minister Mamata Banerjee will flag off Delhi-Chennai Duranto Express. The Sealdah-New Delhi Duranto Express and New Delhi-Pune Duranto Express are also set to start before Durga Puja.

However, Ahmedabad-Mumbai Duranto Express will be delayed. Sources said that the express train, which would take a little over six hours to complete the journey between the two cities, was scheduled for an October 12 launch.

But as the assembly elections in Maharashtra are scheduled on October 13, it has all but derailed the launch of Duranto between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

On the record, the railway has not announced any delay in the launch. The chief public relations officer (CPRO) of Western Railway, Shyam Sundar Gupta, denied that the train’s launch would be delayed. “There has not been any decision in the regard. But, there is nothing like the launch being delayed, at this moment,” he said.

Sources in Ahmedabad rail division said that since the assembly elections in Maharashtra almost clashed with the scheduled launch of the train, there is no possibility of its October 12 launch.

Sources also said that several additional coaches are yet to be added to the non-stop train but are not available at the moment. So even if there were no Maharashtra polls, the launch in time was unlikely.

The fully air-conditioned Duranto will run thrice a week between the two cities. It will depart at 11:15 pm from Ahmedabad and reach Mumbai at 6 am, in less than seven hours, which makes the train the fastest between the two cities.

The train’s journey, sources said, has been scheduled for night because of the heavy rush of passengers.

The decision, however, has not pleased the frequent passengers who rubbished the timings, saying it will be of no use. DNA had reported the public opinion in its edition dated July 18.