Udaipur: Efforts by Udaipur MP Dr Mannalal Rawat to improve rail connectivity for Mewar have yielded results, with the Railway Ministry issuing orders to extend the Udaipur-Asarwa Vande Bharat Express up to Surat.
The train will operate from Udaipur to Surat on six days a week, except Tuesday. The extension is expected to provide relief to thousands of passengers in the Mewar region and open new rail connectivity options towards southern India.
MP Dr Mannalal Rawat thanked Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the extension. He said the Centre had seriously considered the long-standing demand of people in Mewar. According to Rawat, direct Vande Bharat connectivity between Udaipur and Surat will benefit the region in trade, employment and travel.
Extension Follows Meeting with Railway Minister
The demand to extend the Udaipur-Asarwa Vande Bharat Express to Surat had been raised for a long time. Dr Rawat had met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and apprised him of the requirements of Mewar and the difficulties faced by passengers.
Following the meeting, the Railway Ministry issued orders for the extension and released a new timetable.
Vande Bharat to Reach Surat at 11 PM
As per the new timetable, the Vande Bharat Express will depart from Udaipur at 3:35 pm. It will reach Jawar at 4:03 pm, Dungarpur at 4:50 pm, Shamlaji Road at 5:27 pm, Himmatnagar at 6:18 pm and Asarwa at 7:25 pm.
The train will then reach Maninagar at 8:58 pm, Anand at 9:50 pm and Bharuch at 10:22 pm, before reaching Surat at 11 pm.
On the return journey, the train will depart from Surat at 6:10 am and reach Udaipur at 1:40 pm.
Easier Connectivity with Trains to South India
The extension is expected to particularly benefit thousands of people from Mewar who travel to Surat and various cities in southern India for business and employment.
At present, many passengers from Udaipur and nearby areas travel to Surat by bus and then continue their journey by train. Passengers face difficulties due to mismatched bus and train timings as well as waiting lists on trains.
With direct Vande Bharat connectivity from Udaipur to Surat, reaching the city will become easier. From Surat, passengers will be able to connect with trains operating to various cities in southern India.
The move is also expected to strengthen business, employment and social links between Mewar and southern India.
Dr Rawat said connecting Mewar with better rail facilities remains one of his priorities. He described the extension of the Vande Bharat service to Surat as an important step in this direction and expressed hope that possibilities for direct rail services from Mewar to southern India would also become stronger in the future.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.