Jamnagar: Ahmedabad – Jamnagar Vande Bharat Express train will soon operate till Okha. The train will thus cover the pilgrim town Dwarka and the gateway of pilgrim island Bet Dwarka en route. The Prime Minister is likely to flag off this extended route journey of Saurashtra region’s first Vande Bharat Express train during his Gujarat visit on March 12. The official note on the Prime Minister’s visit to Gujarat, released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) however mentions that the Vande Bharat Express between Ahmedabad and Jamnagar is extended up to Dwarka only.

According to Railway officials in Rajkot, train 22926 Okha – Ahmedabad Vande Bharat train will run all days barring Wednesdays. The train will leave Okha at 3.40 am and reach Dwarka at 4.05 am. It will leave Dwarka at 4.10 am and reach Ahmedabad at 10.10 am. Train 22925 from Ahmedabad and Okha will run all days barring Tuesdays. It will leave Ahmedabad at 6.10 pm, reach Dwarka at 12.05 am, and Okha at 12.40 am. There’s no difference in the timings of other stations between Ahmedabad and Jamnagar.

So far, the IRCTC website doesn’t show booking opportunity for the extended route, and therefore it is difficult to say when the extended route will come into effect. The extension anyway is becoming possible due to the electrification of the Rajkot – Okha route which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister at Dwarka itself last month. With this, the journey between Ahmedabad and temple town Dwarka will be smoother, faster, and safer.

An announcement was made on the extension of the route of this train to Vadodara and Udhna (Surat) earlier, however, due to ongoing redevelopment works at Udhna railway station, the extension plan on this end has not been executed.

While commenting on this development, Jamnagar Lok Sabha MP Poonamben Madam said – it’s good news that the train is going to be extended up to Okha, as it will benefit the pilgrims visiting Dwarka and Bet Dwarka. This was Saurashtra’s first Vande Bharat Express train. While the Prime Minister will flag it off at Ahmedabad, we shall flag off the return journey of the train from Okha. DeshGujarat