The Chief Passenger Traffic Manager of ECoR is putting in efforts for the continued operation of the Visakhapatnam-Gorakhpur special train, say rail activists. Representational photo
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The North Eastern Railway’s (NER’s) proposal for the continuation of Visakhapatnam-Gorakhpur special train even after the conclusion of the Maha Kumbh Mela and the reported willingness of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) is a golden opportunity to realise the long-pending demand for a direct train to Allahabad, opine rail activists.
Principal Chief Operations Manager of NER, Anup Satapathy, who served as Divisional Railway Manager of Waltair in the past, is said to be keen on the continuation of the Visakhapatnam–Gorakhpur Special as the special service had over 150% occupancy.
The Chief Passenger Traffic Manager of ECoR is also making efforts for the operation of the special train, says Daniel Joseph, a rail activist from Visakhapatnam region.
There has been a demand for a direct train from Visakhapatnam to Allahabad for more than a decade. When the introduction of a direct train from Visakhapatnam to Allahabad was discussed at the IRTTC meeting in 2017, the authorities concerned were averse to it on the plea of lack of parking facilities and platform constraints.
The Railway Board, however, had agreed to extend 18311/18312 Sambalpur-Banaras – Sambalpur bi-weekly express to Visakhapatnam as there would be no path constraints. Though the proposal was accepted by the authorities of all the railway zones concerned, it took quite a few years for its extension.
This train, however, does not go to Prayagraj (Allahabad) and passengers intending to go to Prayagraj have to alight at Deen Dayal Upadhyay station and board another train for the 290 km (approximate) journey.
The 18311 Visakhapatnam-Banaras (BSBS) had an average occupancy of 159.47% between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. The occupancy was 156.03% from April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, according to information obtained by Kanchumurthi Eswar of Visakhapatnam, under the RTI Act.
An NSG-1 category railway station, Visakhapatnam Junction is the number one among the top 20 railway stations under the ECoR. It recorded a total footfall of 2,77,11,147 passengers from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, and total earnings of ₹546,14,98,961, according to the RTI information.
The special train proposed by the NER will provide a direct connection from Visakhapatnam to Prayagraj (Allahabad), Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
Published – March 06, 2025 08:58 am IST
