Rail travel for passengers in Rajasthan's Mewar region could soon become significantly more convenient following a comprehensive proposal submitted to railway authorities. Om Paliwal, a member of the Zonal Railway Advisory Committee, has presented eight major recommendations to the General Manager of North Western Railway and the Union Ministry of Railways. The suggestions aim to enhance direct connectivity from Udaipur to key commercial, political, and pilgrimage destinations across India. Authorities noted that the recent completion of electrification along the Ahmedabad route has unlocked new possibilities for introducing and expanding long-distance train services from the area.
Daily Train Services Proposed for Haridwar and Mumbai
Foremost among the recommendations is the demand to convert the Udaipur-Haridwar train service into a daily operation. Currently running just three days a week, the train frequently witnesses heavy passenger rush, leading to fully booked coaches and long waiting lists. Upgrading this route to a daily frequency would greatly benefit pilgrims visiting Haridwar as well as travelers heading to northern India. Similarly, the proposal urges making the Udaipur-Bandra train via Ratlam a daily service, establishing robust year-round connectivity to Mumbai for business professionals, commuters, and tourists alike.
Extending Express Routes from Gujarat, Jammu, and Uttarakhand
To strengthen rail links with western India, the committee member has suggested extending the routes of popular trains—including the Navjivan Express, Prerna Express, and Gujarat Mail—up to Udaipur. If approved, these extensions will offer passengers direct travel options to key industrial hubs across Gujarat. Furthermore, the draft advocates extending the Kathgodam-Ajmer Express and the Ajmer-Jammu Tawi Express to Udaipur, eliminating the need for local passengers to change trains at Ajmer when traveling toward Jammu or Uttarakhand.
Early Morning Vande Bharat Schedule and New Bhopal Route
Addressing the needs of daily business travelers to the national capital, the proposal requests adjusting the departure schedule of the Udaipur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express to an earlier morning slot. An earlier start would enable passengers to arrive in Delhi early in the day for business or official work. Additionally, the proposal calls for launching an entirely new direct train service to Bhopal, filling a long-standing gap in rail connectivity to the capital of Madhya Pradesh.
Expanding Platform Capacity at Udaipur City Railway Station
To accommodate the anticipated increase in train traffic and passenger volume, the recommendations highlight the urgent need for station infrastructure upgrades. The proposal calls for increasing the number of platforms at Udaipur City Railway Station from the current 5 to 8. Expanding platform capacity is essential to support the seamless operation of additional long-distance trains and improve passenger flow. All eight proposals are currently under review by the Railway Ministry, with local residents eagerly awaiting official approval.
