Nagpur: Platform No. 8 at Nagpur Railway Station was a riot of colour, music, and cheers on Sunday morning as the city welcomed its first-ever Nagpur–Pune Vande Bharat Express. The inaugural run, flagged off with grandeur, became more than just a train journey, it turned into a moving celebration of speed, comfort, and national pride.
Patriotic tunes filled the air as bands played, children waved flags, and passengers soaked up the “Music on Wheels” vibe. The train’s first leg carried passengers from Nagpur to Badnera, where a special return train awaited. Another group continued to Bhusawal for the second leg of the joyride, while a select few travelled all the way to Pune.
Gold Rate
08 Aug 2025
Among the youngest passengers was a student from Poddar World School, visibly thrilled. “This is my first Vande Bharat experience, honestly, it’s excellent! The intercom makes you feel safe and assisted throughout. It’s super safe, super fast, and comfortable,” she said, seated with her family.
As the semi-high-speed train touched 130 km/hr, the atmosphere inside grew festive. Central Railway auditor Sanjay Waghmare kept spirits high with patriotic songs, accompanied by the Harmony Group on keyboard, octopad, dholak, and percussion. “We also performed during the Nagpur, Secunderabad Vande Bharat launch,” one member noted proudly.
Seventy students from Kendriya Vidyalaya joined the journey, singing, waving flags, and posing for pictures. “It’s my first time, and I’m really proud to be part of this,” said a teacher. Another added, “Like Vande Bharat, India is running fast. The kids even made drawings of ‘Made in India,’ and this train itself is a symbol of that progress.” Sports coach Ayush Agrawal, travelling with 12 basketball players en route to Pune for a tournament, summed it up: “This has raised the bar for train journeys.”
Sandeep Dutta, Additional GM of IRCTC West Zone, called the launch “a sign of Unnat Bharat.” He hinted at future plans for a sleeper version with overnight timings to cater to long-distance passengers.
Ticket frenzy and fare debate
Bookings for both Nagpur-Pune and Pune-Nagpur Vande Bharat services opened to the public on Sunday, immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the inaugural run. By 8 pm the same day, over 30% of seats for Monday’s and Tuesday’s runs had been snapped up.
The Pune–Nagpur service, starting Monday, recorded a 39% overall booking. The premium Executive Chair Car, priced at around Rs 3,725, sold 32 out of 52 seats (61.54%). The regular Chair Car, at ₹2,040 per seat, saw 175 of 478 seats booked (36.61%).
The Nagpur-Pune service, starting Tuesday, saw 34% booking by Sunday night. Executive Chair Car seats, priced at Rs 3,815, had 29 takers out of 52 (55%), while Chair Car seats at Rs 2,140 had 152 bookings (31%).
However, the fares, around Rs 100 higher than the reverse route, sparked surprise and some criticism. Several passengers, and even some railway officials, admitted they had expected fares closer to Rs 1,500 for Chair Car and Rs 3,000 for Executive Chair Car. Catering charges of Rs 450-Rs 540 were cited as a major reason for the higher pricing, with many calling the food costs excessive.
Despite the fare debate, the inaugural run carried more than passengers, it carried the optimism of a nation racing ahead, blending modern comfort with a celebration of progress.
