...
...
Next Story

Azad Hind Exp delays continue, only 8 days on time in 3 months

According to railway officials, the Azad Hind Express is often given lower priority compared to other premium trains. Due to congestion on the route and operational limitations, the train is frequently held up, causing extended delays

Published on: Aug 18, 2025, 05:24:17 IST
Advertisement

Passengers traveling on the Pune-Kolkata Azad Hind Express are facing serious inconvenience due to the train’s persistent delays. Data from the past three months reveal a dismal record, with the train running on time for only eight days out of 92. For the remaining 84 days, the train was delayed, inconveniencing passengers.

For passengers, the delays not only affect travel schedules but also lead to missed onward connections and added expenses. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)
For passengers, the delays not only affect travel schedules but also lead to missed onward connections and added expenses. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

According to railway records, in April, the train was late for 11 days and managed to be on time only five times. In May, the situation worsened with 29 days of delays and just two days on time. In June, the train ran late on 16 days, whereas in July, it ran late on all days except once.

According to railway officials, the Azad Hind Express is often given lower priority compared to other premium trains. Due to congestion on the route and operational limitations, the train is frequently held up, causing extended delays.

Hemant Kumar Bhera, senior divisional commercial manager, Pune, said, “There are delays, but our officers and workers try to stick to punctuality daily. We work hard to maintain the timings of all trains running from Pune Railway Station, not just Azad Hind Express.”

In the past one year, the train has maintained punctuality on only 17 days out of 365, reflecting the chronic nature of the problem.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dheeraj Bengrut

Dheeraj Bengrut is a Principal Correspondent with Hindustan Times, Pune, with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He covers transport, infrastructure, urban development and civic governance, with a focus on public policy and citizen-centric issues. His reporting spans railways, aviation, roads, public transport and major infrastructure projects across Maharashtra.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Notifications

Get breaking alerts directly from the newsroom

Notifications are on!You'll be notified when news breaks