Jaipur: Here is bad news from the railways for tourists and domestic travellers on the Jaipur-Agra stretch. Following a dip in passenger load, the North Western Railways (NWR) has decided to cancel the Jaipur-Agra Shatabadi express from May 1.
This is a setback for passengers travelling from Delhi to Jaipur in Shatabdi Express and later taking the Shatabadi to Agra.
According to NWR sources, the number of passengers in the Jaipur-Agra route has been continuously dipping for a long time.
So, the authorities had asked the railway board to to terminate the service.
“From May 1, the service will be terminated,” said Tarun Jain, chief public relations officer, NWR, on Thursday.
This has been done only a few months after the interior of the train was renovated under a scheme and given a new look.
Foreign tourists were largely dependent on this train. “Tourists who come to Jaipur from Delhi usually opt for the Shatabadi Express to travel to Agra. This is a major setback. There are other trains too for Agra, but the timing of the train was suitable as it starts in the morning to Agra and passengers can return to Jaipur in the evening on the same train after the visit,” said a Jaipur-based travel agent.
According to sources, authorities are planning to relaunch the train as ‘Jan Shatabadi’ express with subsidised fares.
“After the nod from the ministry, the train may be relaunched as Jan Shatabadi with subsided fares to lure passengers,” said a senior NWR official on condition of anonymity.
Sources added that the fares of the train—Rs 869 for the chair car and Rs 1,245 for the executive class— were much higher compared to the rates of Volvo or Mercedez bus of the RSRTC.
“The catering facility in the train is likely to be removed if the train is relaunched with subsidised fares,” the official added.
