Ahmedabad-Mumbai route powers Gujarat’s Vande Bharat boom

Ahmedabad: Vande Bharat Express has emerged as a major driver of premium rail travel from Ahmedabad and across Gujarat, with nearly 73 lakh passengers using the service between Oct 2022 and March 2026.During this period, six pairs of Vande Bharat trains operating from the state generated revenue of around Rs 722 crore.The Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor has seen especially strong demand, with both Vande Bharat services on the route becoming a preferred choice for business travellers, professionals and regular commuters. Railway data shows occupancy on some routes touched as high as 140%, while several services consistently recorded more than 100% occupancy, while others remained above 90%, railway officials said.The six Gujarat-linked Vande Bharat services are Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar, Sabarmati-Jodhpur, Ahmedabad-Okha, Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad, Sabarmati-Veraval and Asarva-Udaipur. These trains were launched between Oct 2022 and Feb 2026.Officials attributed the growing popularity of the trains to modern amenities such as GPS-based passenger information systems, reclining seats, mobile charging points, onboard infotainment, CCTV surveillance and bio-vacuum toilets. Improved catering, punctual operations, enhanced safety standards and reduced travel time have further boosted passenger confidence in the service, they said.