Railway authorities attribute the delay to non-availability of rake
The Bengali word ‘Duronto' means ‘quick' but the ‘super fast express', which boasts of being the ‘quickest train' between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad cities, is yet to chug off nearly 10 months after it was sanctioned in the last Railway Budget.
Interestingly, the train number and timings of the tri-weekly Secunderabad -Visakhapatnam AC Duronto was announced in July this year.
This has kindled the hopes of passengers of the region who are looking for a super-fast AC express as the originating trains from Visakhapatnam to the State capital are almost always full. Six months later, they still wonder what is delaying the launch of Duronto.
It has been announced that the 18-coach non-stop train will cover the distance of 701 km in 9 hours and 25 minutes, making it the fastest train between the two cities.
The rake will have 10 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches, two AC first class and two EOG cars.
The train will have a technical stop at Vijayawada junction.
The railway authorities attribute the delay to the non-availability of rake.
Those watching the developments feel that it is due to lack of pressure from people's representatives.
Rajya Sabha member T. Subbarami Reddy has been taking up the issue with the Railway Minister and the Railway Board officials for the last several months but nothing concrete has come out of it so far.
Low priority
“Of the nine new Duronto trains announced in the last budget, Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam Duronto is given very low priority.
The first priority in allotment of rakes is given to those States in which people's representatives are strong,” say sources.
It has already been announced that the train will leave Secunderabad on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and reach Visakhapatnam the following days.
It remains to be seen as to how many more days will the Duronto continue to dodge Visakhapatnam.
The train was sanctioned following a proposal made in the last budget
The non-stop train to cover a distance of 701 km in nine hours and 25 minutes
The Bengali word ‘Duronto' means ‘quick' but the ‘super fast express', which boasts of being the ‘quickest train' between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad cities, is yet to chug off nearly 10 months after it was sanctioned in the last Railway Budget.
Interestingly, the train number and timings of the tri-weekly Secunderabad -Visakhapatnam AC Duronto was announced in July this year.
This has kindled the hopes of passengers of the region who are looking for a super-fast AC express as the originating trains from Visakhapatnam to the State capital are almost always full. Six months later, they still wonder what is delaying the launch of Duronto.
It has been announced that the 18-coach non-stop train will cover the distance of 701 km in 9 hours and 25 minutes, making it the fastest train between the two cities.
The rake will have 10 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches, two AC first class and two EOG cars.
The train will have a technical stop at Vijayawada junction.
The railway authorities attribute the delay to the non-availability of rake.
Those watching the developments feel that it is due to lack of pressure from people's representatives.
Rajya Sabha member T. Subbarami Reddy has been taking up the issue with the Railway Minister and the Railway Board officials for the last several months but nothing concrete has come out of it so far.
Low priority
“Of the nine new Duronto trains announced in the last budget, Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam Duronto is given very low priority.
The first priority in allotment of rakes is given to those States in which people's representatives are strong,” say sources.
It has already been announced that the train will leave Secunderabad on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and reach Visakhapatnam the following days.
It remains to be seen as to how many more days will the Duronto continue to dodge Visakhapatnam.
The train was sanctioned following a proposal made in the last budget
The non-stop train to cover a distance of 701 km in nine hours and 25 minutes
