the scheduled flag-off of the Madgaon-CSMT Vande Bharat Express train on Saturday has
been canceled.
The Indian Railways had enthusiastically prepared for the flag-off ceremony of the Vande Bharat trains, with elaborate plans and excitement. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had confidently stated that the Vande Bharat trains would cover all states.
Odisha Train Accident
Due to a collision between the Coromandel Express and a freight train in Odisha’s Balasore district on Friday, the scheduled flag-off of the Madgaon-CSMT Vande Bharat Express train on Saturday has been canceled.
In a tragic three-way accident at Bahanagar in Odisha’s Balasore district, involving the Bengaluru-Howrah superfast express, the Coromandel Express, and a goods train on three separate tracks, several individuals sustained injuries, and there are fears of multiple fatalities.
A collision between the Coromandel Express, which operates between Shalimar station in West Bengal and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, and a goods train in Odisha’s Balasore district resulted in at least 179 people sustaining injuries on Friday. The incident took place near Bahanaga railway station in Balasore, and there are concerns that some passengers may have lost their lives, while many others remain trapped inside the overturned coaches.
The scheduling is currently uncertain
The scheduling of the fourth Vande Bharat train is currently uncertain, with no fixed date announced for its operation.
According to a senior official from the railway ministry, the planned grand flag-off ceremony for the Vande Bharat Express train from Goa to Mumbai has been canceled. There is currently no clarity on whether there will be another flag-off ceremony for the train or if it will depart quietly from Madgaon. Additionally, the official expressed uncertainty about whether the train’s schedule will be followed as initially planned.
A grand function was scheduled for Saturday, with the departure of the Vande Bharat train set for 10.45 am after being flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A planned part of the event was speeches from Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighting the benefits of the Mumbai-Goa route. On Friday, the railways conducted last-minute trial runs and thoroughly inspected the mechanical and electrical components of the train at Madgaon station.
Railway Minister heading to the accident site
Officials reported that due to the accident in Odisha, Railway Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw had changed his plans and was heading to the accident site. and the scheduled ceremony was canceled.
About Vande Bharat Express
The inaugural Vande Bharat train was an 8-car train that was scheduled to operate six days a week, making stops at CSMT, Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Khed, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Thivim, and Madgaon stations. The journey time between Mumbai and Goa was expected to be 7 hours and 50 minutes.
The fourth blue and white-colored train introduced in Maharashtra, the Vande Bharat Express, marks a new era for the Konkan region. Its operation between Goa and Maharashtra will significantly reduce travel time by over an hour. This improved connectivity will not only boost trade and commerce but also enhance tourism in the coastal state.
