Nagpur-Goa train offers budget travel at just Rs 670, taking on costly airfares

Nagpur: Travelling from Nagpur to Goa has now become significantly cheaper with Central Railway regularising the Nagpur-Madgaon Express, allowing passengers to reach the coastal destination in a little over 26 hours for as low as Rs670, compared to airfares ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000.The 11203/11204 Nagpur-Madgaon Bi-Weekly Express, which was earlier operating as a special train, was formally flagged off on Saturday from Platform No. 8 of Nagpur railway station by Union minister Nitin Gadkari in the presence of public representatives, railway officials, and passengers.With flight fares between Nagpur and Goa often ranging between Rs5,000 and Rs6,000, the newly regularised train service will allow passengers to travel to Goa for just Rs 670 in sleeper class. Even air-conditioned travel remains comparatively affordable, with Third AC tickets priced at Rs1,735 and Second AC fares at Rs2,480.Speaking at the event, Gadkari welcomed the move and said it would benefit travellers wanting to go to Kokan and Goa. "The train was already 130% booked. If the response is good, the railway administration is likely to make it a daily service," said Gadkari.The move is expected to benefit tourists, students, families, and regular travellers from Vidarbha looking for economical travel options to the Konkan and Goa regions.The inaugural ceremony witnessed a festive atmosphere at the station, with children from WSSC Balak Mandir presenting cultural dance performances before the departure of the train. Among those present during the flag-off were MP Shyamkumar Barve, Rajya Sabha MP Maya Ivanate, Nagpur Central MLA Pravin Datke, and Mayor Neeta Thakre, along with senior railway officials and passengers.According to Central Railway, the 11203 Nagpur-Madgaon Express will operate every Wednesday and Saturday from Nagpur starting May 16. The train will depart Nagpur at 3.05pm and reach Madgaon at 5.45pm the following day.Similarly, the 11204 Madgaon-Nagpur Express will run every Thursday and Sunday from May 17 onwards. It will leave Madgaon at 8pm and arrive in Nagpur at 9.25pm the next day.The train will halt at major stations including Wardha, Badnera, Akola, Bhusawal, Nashik Road, Kalyan, Panvel, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Kudal, Sawantwadi Road, Thivim and Karmali, among others.Railway officials said the regularisation of the service marks a major boost for direct rail connectivity between Vidarbha, Konkan and Goa and is expected to support tourism, trade and passenger movement across the regions.