Rajkot: Trade bodies, local politicians, and consultative committees have intensified their three-year-long demand for a direct daily train from Rajkot to Haridwar. The demand has gained momentum as Bhavnagar, a smaller city, already enjoys three direct trains to Haridwar, while Rajkot lacks even a single daily service. Additionally, a long-pending proposal to extend six major trains from Ahmedabad to Rajkot remains unfulfilled despite earlier announcements.
RCCI Submits Fresh Representation
The Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) recently submitted a fresh representation highlighting the difficulties faced by thousands of passengers. Currently, passengers traveling to Haridwar must rely on just one weekly Okha-Dehradun Uttaranchal Express. This limited service results in immense difficulty in securing confirmed tickets and long waiting lists, the RCCI stated. The Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) has also joined the efforts.
Passengers Face Arduous Journeys
Passengers are often forced to undertake arduous journeys, changing trains at two to three locations or traveling unnecessarily to Ahmedabad. This leads to significant wastage of time and money, particularly for the elderly, women, and children. Representations submitted to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the General Manager of Western Railway have suggested extending the Yoga Express to Rajkot as an interim measure.
Railway Constraints Cited
Railway sources have cited high occupancy in existing trains and congestion on the Delhi–Haridwar route as constraints in introducing new services. In late 2023, former Minister of State for Railways Darshana Jardosh had announced that six trains originating from Ahmedabad would be extended to Rajkot, including Ahmedabad–Patna, Ahmedabad–Prayagraj, Ahmedabad–Kolkata, Ahmedabad–Kolhapur, Ahmedabad–Nagpur, and the Gujarat Sampark Kranti Express. However, no progress has been made on this front.
Railway Official's Response
When contacted, Rajkot Divisional Railway Manager Giriraj Kumar Meena said, "We have already forwarded a demand to the railway board for a train from Okha to Haridwar, and this year we got a train for Shakur Basti in Delhi."
