Pune: Passengers Express Frustration Over Chronic Delays of Azad Hind Express

Pune, 3rd May 2024: A growing chorus of dissatisfaction resonates among passengers of the Azad Hind Express, who are tired of the perennial delays that have disrupted their travel plans and life events. The train’s chronic tardiness has become a significant inconvenience, with numerous passengers missing their onward journeys and important occasions due to its unreliability.

Scheduled to depart from Pune station at 6:35 PM on Thursday, the Azad Hind Express has once again tested the patience of travelers by delaying its departure to 7:35 AM on May 3 (Friday), marking a staggering delay of 13 hours. This delay is just one instance of a pattern of recurring tardiness. On May 1, the train departed 11 hours behind schedule at 5:35 AM, while on April 30, it left more than 5 hours late at 12:05 AM on May 1.

Deven Shinde, a frustrated passenger, took to social media on April 29, expressing his exasperation after enduring over 35 hours of travel, resulting in him missing his brother’s wedding due to the train’s prolonged delay.

Echoing similar sentiments, Md Nesharul suggested scrapping the Azad Hind Express altogether, citing its failure to serve its intended purpose amidst exorbitant ticket prices comparable to airfares.

Amidst a flood of passenger complaints, the Pune rail division has urgently requested the Central Railway headquarters in Mumbai to provide an additional train rake to address the ongoing issue. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Indu Dubey emphasized the need for swift action, citing the unavailability of spare rakes due to the high volume of summer special trains currently in operation.

Another passenger recounted how a 22-hour delay on May 1 caused him and his family to miss multiple onward connections and hotel bookings, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the train’s chronic delays.

Explaining the root cause of the delays, BK Singh, the additional divisional railway manager at the Pune division, pointed to track and electrification-related works spanning multiple railway zones, including central and south eastern zones.

Despite railway officials attributing the delays to ongoing infrastructure projects, commuters remain sceptical, calling for accountability and immediate action to rectify the persistent delays plaguing the Azad Hind Express.