Mamata’s Durontos too fast for passengers

The Duronto is turning out to be a bit too fast — for passengers and their relatives and friends. Since its launch, the “fastest trains in India” have been reaching destinations much before time, reports Avishek G Dastidar.

The Duronto is turning out to be a bit too fast — for passengers and their relatives and friends.

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Since its launch, the “fastest trains in India” have been reaching destinations much before time.

Result: travellers have often surprised their relatives and friends with calls from stations, at times two hours before their expected arrival.

“My uncle’s family waited over an hour for me at Nizamuddin because the train from Pune reached early,” said Cyril N, an MNC executive who lives in Dwarka.

For instance, the twice-weekly Duronto from Pune reached Delhi before time all of last month — sometimes at 5.30 am against the scheduled time of 7.10 am.

“Since there are only ‘operational stops’, the trains do not get delayed anywhere,” said Anil Saxena, Indian Railways spokesman.

The Durontos also benefit from being rail minister Mamata Banerjee’s pet project. Sources say not wanting to invite her wrath, all zones and divisions give the trains the green light on a priority basis — ahead of even Rajdhanis.