Ahmedabad: The highly anticipated Vande Bharat Express connecting Ahmedabad and Udaipur is scheduled for its inaugural run on February 16, with regular services set to commence on the 18th. While the train promises modern connectivity, its official schedule has triggered debate among frequent travellers, tourists, and pilgrims in Gujarat, many of whom claim the timings favour Udaipur residents while inconveniencing passengers from Ahmedabad.

Concerns Over an “Unviable” Tourist Schedule

The train is scheduled to depart from Asarwa (Ahmedabad) at 5:45 pm and arrive in Udaipur at 10:00 pm. On the return journey, it will leave Udaipur at around 6:00 am and reach Ahmedabad at 10:25 am.

Travellers highlight several concerns for passengers travelling from Ahmedabad for leisure or religious purposes:

• Higher hotel costs: Most Udaipur hotels follow a 12:00 pm check-in policy. Arriving late at night forces travellers to pay for an additional full day’s tariff despite using the room for only a few hours.

• Loss of amenities: A 6:00 am departure from Udaipur requires travellers to skip breakfast and forfeit the final morning of their stay, effectively wasting the last day of their booking.

• Late-night logistics: Reaching Udaipur at 10:00 pm creates difficulties for pilgrims heading to Shrinathji (Nathdwara) or Eklingji, particularly in arranging transport and accommodation at night.

• Unproductive departure timing: To catch the 5:45 pm train from the congested Asarwa area, many passengers must leave home by mid-afternoon, making the entire departure day largely unproductive.

Limited Time Advantage Over Road Travel

Another point of contention is that the train’s 4-hour-15-minute journey offers little advantage over road travel. With recent highway improvements, the Ahmedabad–Udaipur drive now takes a little more than four hours under favourable conditions.

Unlike rail travel, private vehicles provide door-to-door connectivity to hotels and nearby tourist destinations such as Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh, eliminating the need to arrange late-night transport after arrival.

From an overall travel-time perspective, the train journey may effectively take longer, as passengers must first travel from home to Asarwa station and then undertake a journey of more than four hours, whereas road travel offers end-to-end connectivity in less time.

Questions on Occupancy and Market Demand

Critics also argue that the timetable overlooks regional demand patterns. Ahmedabad’s wider urban population and higher spending capacity significantly exceed those of Udaipur.

Some observers suggest the current schedule primarily benefits Udaipur passengers, enabling same-day business travel to Ahmedabad with a return by evening. They warn that without a more balanced timetable, the service could face occupancy challenges similar to those that reportedly affected certain other Vande Bharat routes in the region.

Calls for Flexible Solutions

Despite concerns raised on social media and local platforms over the past year, the timetable has remained unchanged. Experts suggest that if railway authorities do not revise the schedule, the hospitality sector in Udaipur could introduce adaptive measures.

Proposals include flexible 24-hour check-in/check-out aligned with train timings, discounted late-night arrival packages, and dedicated station transfer services to improve traveller convenience.

Without timetable adjustments or coordinated hospitality support, stakeholders caution that the long-term success of this Vande Bharat route may remain uncertain. DeshGujarat