Destination Prayagraj: Gandhigram railway station in Ahmedabad gets its first express train

Ahmedabad: Indian Railways has announced the first passenger express train service originating from Gandhigram which is situated in the heart of the city, addressing long-standing demand beyond the two local trains currently serving the Bhavnagar side.The move is expected to improve long-distance connectivity from Ahmedabad’s western rail corridor, though it has also revived concerns about traffic disruption as trains pass through dense city stretches.Residents and commuters in Navrangpura and parts of Naranpura are likely to face major traffic snarls at level crossings when the train movement increases through the city. Earlier, the Sabarmati–Bhavnagar service was curtailed to Gandhigram to reduce such congestion, and the new operational pattern is being closely watched for its impact on road traffic management.This is probably the first train to be introduced at a station other than the ones at Sabarmati and Kalupur in the city. The newly announced service is Gandhigram–Prayagraj bi-weekly special, to run on special fare. The train will depart Gandhigram at 5.20pm every Sunday and Wednesday from May 31 to July 15, reaching Prayagraj at 8pm the next day. The train will leave Prayagraj at 4.15pm every Saturday and Tuesday from May 30 to July 14, arriving Gandhigram at 3.30pm the next day.The train will stop at Chandkheda Road, Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Falna, Marwar Junction, Ajmer, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Idgah, Tundla, Etawah, Govindpuri and Fatehpur. The rake will include second class, sleeper and AC 3-tier coaches.