The Impressive TimesMumbai, December 3, 2025 — Maharashtra has emerged as one of the best-connected states under Indian Railways’ modernisation drive, with 24 Vande Bharat Express services currently operating to and from stations across the state. The information was shared in a written reply in the Lok Sabha by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology.
With Indian Railways operating 164 Vande Bharat services nationwide, Maharashtra accounts for nearly one-sixth of the total high-speed, semi-high-speed connectivity footprint — a significant boost to intra-state and inter-state mobility.
The 24 services connect a wide range of major cities and economic hubs, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Solapur, Kolhapur, Nanded, and Shirdi, ensuring seamless travel for lakhs of passengers.
Key services include:
Pune–Ajni Vande Bharat (26101/26102) — Introduced on 11 August 2025
Nagpur–Secunderabad Vande Bharat (20101/20102) — Introduced on 19 September 2024
Hubballi–Pune Vande Bharat (20669/20670) — Introduced on 18 September 2024
CSMT Kolhapur–Pune Vande Bharat (20673/20674) — Introduced on 18 September 2024
Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat (22961/22962) — Introduced on 9 March 2024
H.S. Nanded–CSMT Vande Bharat (20705/20706) — Introduced on 30 December 2023
CSMT–Madgaon Vande Bharat (22229/22230) — Introduced on 28 June 2023
Indore–Nagpur Vande Bharat (20911/20912) — Introduced on 27 June 2023
CSMT–Sainagar Shirdi (22223/22224) and CSMT–Solapur (22225/22226) — Introduced on 11 February 2023
Bilaspur–Nagpur Vande Bharat (20825/20826) — Introduced on 12 December 2022
Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Capital (20901/20902) — Introduced on 30 September 2022
In a notable enhancement for the Marathwada region, the Jalna–CSMT Vande Bharat (20705/20706) has been extended up to H.S. Nanded via Parbhani, effective 28 August 2025. This extension aims to provide better connectivity for commuters and boost regional mobility.
The introduction of Vande Bharat services depends on several logistical and infrastructural considerations including section capacity, train path availability, rolling stock, and maintenance requirements. Indian Railways frequently receives proposals from Members of Parliament, state representatives, organisations, and individual rail users — all of which are reviewed continuously at the Railway Board and zonal and divisional levels.
Expenditure on infrastructure development and Vande Bharat operations forms part of the Railways’ ongoing maintenance and upgradation outlay, covering both revenue and capital segments. With the rapid expansion of Vande Bharat trains and high-priority upgrades across routes, the government aims to further modernise mobility and enhance passenger experience.
The growing network reflects Indian Railways’ focus on faster, safer, and more reliable travel, positioning Maharashtra as a major hub in the nationwide transportation grid.
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