Ahmedabad: The Veraval-Sabarmati Vande Bharat Express will operate on a revised route from Aug 17, bringing the semi-high-speed train into Ahmedabad city via Gandhigram. Earlier, the service was available only from Sabarmati, but passengers will now be able to board it from Gandhigram as well.The change will improve connectivity for several towns in Saurashtra that were not previously served by the train. The revised route will see the Sabarmati-Veraval Vande Bharat run via Veraval, Junagadh, Dhasa, Dhola, Botad, Dhandhuka, Dholka, Gandhigram and Sabarmati instead of its existing alignment through Rajkot, Wankaner, Surendranagar Junction and Viramgam Junction.The diversion is also expected to increase traffic congestion at several crossroads between Gandhigram and Sabarmati, where many level crossings are still manned. These crossings will be shut at least five to six minutes before the train passes and reopened only after a brief interval. “As the train will pass during morning and night hours, daily commuters are unlikely to be affected significantly,” said an official.The train’s timetable has also been revised. It will depart Veraval at 3.50pm, about an hour later than the current departure time of 2.45pm, and reach Sabarmati at 10.25pm instead of 9.35pm. On the return journey, it will leave Sabarmati at 6am, compared with the present 5.25am departure, and arrive in Veraval at 12.50pm instead of 12.25pm.Railway officials said the revised route is expected to benefit tourists travelling to Somnath and the Gir region, besides improving connectivity for students, traders and business travellers.
