Udaipur, February 20, 2025 – Udaipur residents would be the happiest if rail connectivity between Udaipur division of southern Rajasthan and Mumbai is improved and adequate train service is provided. At the moment, it certainly is not adequate enough.

An increase in rail connectivity between Udaipur division and Mumbai would benefit not only the local business community here in Udaipur but a large number of Mumbai businesses as well. Plus also the local youngsters who have moved to metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Pune to pursue education. Improving rail connectivity to Mumbai would provide a further boost to the tourism industry in Udaipur. Furthermore, it would benefit people from Mewar and Wagad regions who often have to pay high fares for private buses when travelling to and fro from Mumbai during festive and tourist seasons.

Currently, there are only two trains between Udaipur and Mumbai. And both do not operate on a daily basis. The Udaipur-Bandra Superfast (Train No. 22901/22902) operates only three days a week (Wednesday-Friday-Sunday), while the Udaipur-Mysuru Hamsafar (Train No. 19667/19668) runs only once a week (Monday). The same two trains are available for the return journey from Mumbai.

Similarly, there is no regular train service between Chittorgarh and Mumbai. From Chittorgarh, the Udaipur-Bandra Superfast (Train No. 22901/22902) operates three days a week (Wednesday-Friday-Sunday), the Udaipur-Mysuru Hamsafar (Train No. 19667/19668) operates once a week (Monday), the Ajmer-Bandra Superfast Express (Train No. 12995/12996) operates three days a week (Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday), and the Jaipur-Yeshvantpur (Bengaluru) Superfast Express (Train No. 20667/20668) operates once a week (Monday). The Jaipur-Bandra Superfast Special (Train No. 09723/09724) runs once a week (Wednesday) and is available until April 3, 2025, while the Ajmer-Bandra Superfast Special (Train No. 09653/09654) operates once a week (Saturday) and available until November 3, 2025.

Likewise, only four trains operate between Bhilwara and Mumbai. From Bhilwara, the Ajmer-Bandra Superfast Express (Train No. 12995/12996) operates three days a week (Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday), and the Jaipur-Yeshvantpur (Bengaluru) Superfast Express (Train No. 20667/20668) operates once a week (Monday). The Jaipur-Bandra Superfast Special (Train No. 09723/09724) runs once a week (Wednesday) and is available until April 3, 2025, while the Ajmer-Bandra Superfast Special (Train No. 09653/09654) operates once a week (Saturday) and available until November 3, 2025.

From the Wagad region's Dungarpur, there is no train to Mumbai. However, people from Wagad frequently travel to Mumbai for business purposes.

Increased Connectivity via Ahmedabad Would Bring Benefits

It may be noted that all the above-mentioned rail services connect Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam to Mumbai via Gujarat’s Dahod, Vadodara and Surat. However, connecting Udaipur division to Mumbai via Ahmedabad would bring more benefits. The electrification work of the Udaipur-Ahmedabad broad gauge track up to Asarwa Junction has already been completed. Consequently, electric engine-operated trains have started running on the Udaipur-Asarwa track. But for Udaipur to connect with South India or Mumbai via Ahmedabad, we will have to wait for completion of the on-going track re-development work from Asarwa Junction to Ahmedabad’s main station, Kalupur.

5-Km Track Work Between Asarwa and Kalupur

There is a five-kilometre stretch of railway track from Ahmedabad’s Kalupur station to Asarwa, where re-development work is taking place at smaller stations and construction work is on-going at Kalupur station. This means that some platforms currently cannot be used. Therefore, no new trains are being sent to Kalupur station. The work is expected to be completed in the coming months. Once this work is complete trains can operate between Udaipur and South India or Mumbai via Ahmedabad.

Tintoi-Modasa: Alternative Route from Udaipur to Mumbai

In October 2024, Rajya Sabha MP Chunnilal Garasiya took up the issue with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urging him to survey a new railway track between Tintoi and Modasa in Gujarat, covering 20 kms. MP Garasiya raised this issue in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to connect the new rail route with the Udaipur railway line. He also personally met the Minister Vaishnaw, requesting the completion of the project at the earliest.

In response, Vaishnaw informed MP Garasiya through a letter that instructions had been given to the concerned directorate for a detailed examination of setting up a new 20-km rail track between Tintoi and Modasa. If this route is developed and connected to Udaipur, a direct train service between Udaipur and Mumbai can begin, eliminating the need for passengers to switch trains in Ahmedabad.