Passengers Voice Frustration and Concerns as Azad Hind Express and Jhelum Express Trains Experience Prolonged Delays
By: Pune Pulse
August 8, 2023
Pune : Due to frequent delays in reaching Pune the schedules of Azad Hind Express & Jhelum Express are not getting followed properly.
Speaking to Pune Pulse about the issue, Dr Ramdas Bhise, Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) and PRO Pune Railways said, “There are four rakes for Azad Hind Express & five rakes for Jhelum Express. Currently, the rakes of Jhelum Express and Azad Hind Express are being utilized on a ‘first-come-first-use’ basis. This is being done to avoid cancellation of Azad Hind Express or excessive delay in departure. The Azad Hind Express runs late sometimes from the South East Railway division. We are in constant talks with the concerned authorities and thinking on how to get these trains to run on time every day.”
As per information from Bhise, four rakes of Pune-Howrah Azad Hind Express train are running. However, there have been times in the past when the train had to be cancelled. As the Howrah Express was cancelled last week, the ‘rake’ did not reach Pune. Jhelum ‘rake’ was given to Howrah to avoid train cancellation. Since then, the schedule of ‘Jhelum’ has also been disrupted.
The schedule of Howrah Azad Hind Express departing from Pune has been disrupted for the past three months. Whenever this train is cancelled, most of the time it is running late. Now the ‘Jhelum Express’ departing from Pune is also running late for the last eight days (From July 31). Jhelum Express departs from Pune railway station daily at 5:20 PM. It reaches Jammu Tawi at 10:15 am on the third day after covering a distance of 2,179 km; But it is seen that the schedule of this train has been disturbed since July 31. This express is getting delayed by five to seven hours every day. Therefore, passengers have to wait at the railway station.
