Mumbai will tomorrow witness the launch of a new Vande Bharat Express service connecting Hazur Sahib Nanded with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). The high-speed semi-luxury train, flagged as a long-standing demand of the Sikh community, is expected to enhance cultural, spiritual, and tourism connectivity across Maharashtra while offering faster and more comfortable mobility for residents and visitors alike.
The new service, which will be inaugurated on 26 August, is scheduled to depart from Hazur Sahib Nanded at 11:20 AM and reach Mumbai CSMT by 9:55 PM. The train will halt at Parbhani, Jalna, Aurangabad, Manmad, Nashik Road, Kalyan, Thane, and Dadar, linking important urban and regional centres with the state’s commercial capital. Officials said the initiative is not only a boost to transport infrastructure but also to religious and cultural tourism. Hazur Sahib in Nanded, one of Sikhism’s five sacred Takhts, attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year. With a dedicated Vande Bharat Express now operational, travel between the historic town and Mumbai is expected to be faster, safer, and more sustainable.
From 27 August onwards, the service will run six days a week under train numbers 20705 and 20706. The Nanded-Mumbai train will depart at 5:00 AM and arrive in the city at 2:25 PM, while the return service from Mumbai will leave at 1:10 PM and reach Nanded by 10:50 PM. Services will remain suspended on Wednesdays from Nanded and Thursdays from Mumbai for maintenance. Transport planners highlighted that Vande Bharat trains have steadily reshaped intercity travel by reducing journey time and offering modern amenities. Officials underlined that the train’s energy-efficient technology aligns with India’s commitment to greener mobility solutions. “This service is designed not only to provide convenience but also to encourage low-emission, sustainable rail travel across Maharashtra,” an official said.
Experts also noted that with Maharashtra recording rising passenger demand along this corridor, the addition of the Vande Bharat Express is a timely intervention. It is expected to ease road traffic, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and complement the government’s larger vision of modernising railway infrastructure. While the train primarily benefits the Sikh community by improving connectivity to Hazur Sahib, it is equally significant for tourists and business travellers in Aurangabad, Nashik, and Pune belt regions who rely on quicker rail options. Residents welcomed the move, saying it brings parity to smaller towns long underserved by premium services.
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