New Delhi/Bhavnagar – In a letter addressed to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today, Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil has raised concerns over the lack of direct rail connectivity between Bhavnagar, Gujarat, and the national capital, while also pressing for significant upgrades to local passenger amenities.

Gohil highlighted that despite Bhavnagar being a divisional headquarters for Western Railway, the city remains deprived of a direct train facility to Delhi. He noted that a “Train on Demand” (TOD) service previously operated between Bhavnagar and Shakur Basti but was discontinued for reasons unknown to the public.

To address the gap in service, Gohil proposed a logistical solution involving the utilization of idle resources. He pointed out that the rake for the weekly Bhavnagar-Ayodhya train (19201/19202) currently sits idle at Bhavnagar Station for over four days. He requested the ministry to utilize this idle rake to run a regular weekly train from Bhavnagar to Shakur Basti or another convenient station in Delhi.

The MP also expressed gratitude for the recent allotment of two local trains: Bhavnagar to Veraval (59558/59559) and Bhavnagar to Porbandar (59560/59561). However, he emphasized that these services need immediate modernization to better serve pilgrims, senior citizens, and families. His specific requests included converting these local trains into Express Trains and adding an AC Chair Car to each to provide reservation facilities and ensure a comfortable journey.

Citing reliable sources, Gohil also drew attention to infrastructural bottlenecks at the Bhavnagar Terminus (BVC). He stated that the station currently operates with only two pit lines, which is insufficient for efficient maintenance and limits the capacity to handle more trains. He also noted a lack of adequate shunting tracks, despite the availability of land.

To resolve this, the MP suggested the construction of two additional pit lines and the installation of three to four new shunting tracks. Gohil argued that these improvements would allow Bhavnagar to handle more traffic, thereby sharing the operational burden of the nearby Ahmedabad (ADI) Division.

The letter concluded with a personal appeal to the Minister, recalling his recent visit to Bhavnagar and hoping for a favorable consideration of the requests.