Vande Bharat Between Kolhapur and Mumbai; Launch Expected Within 15 Days

In a major development for rail connectivity in western Maharashtra, the Indian Railways has approved the launch of the Vande Bharat Express between Kolhapur and Mumbai. The much-awaited service is expected to commence within the next 15 days, bringing relief to thousands of daily commuters and travelers.

With this green signal from the Railway Administration, residents of Kolhapur will now be able to travel comfortably in fully air-conditioned Vande Bharat coaches to Mumbai. The demand for this route had been growing steadily, especially as existing trains like the Sahyadri Express were halted and the earlier Vande Bharat service operated only between Pune and Kolhapur, excluding Mumbai.

The new Vande Bharat service is expected to cut down travel time significantly—from the current 11 hours to just 7 hours. The 8-coach train will be equipped with modern amenities such as automatic doors, plush interiors, and advanced safety features, providing a premium travel experience for passengers.

The decision was finalized during a meeting of the Zonal Railway Passenger Advisory Committee. Local leaders and members of the committee had long been advocating for improved rail services between Kolhapur and Mumbai, especially given the religious and tourism traffic to Kolhapur. Lakhs of devotees visit the city every year to seek blessings of Goddess Ambabai at the historic Mahalaxmi Temple, one of the three and a half Shakti Peethas.

Member of Parliament Dhananjay Mahadik played a key role in following up with railway authorities to secure approval for this new service. Speaking about the development, Railway Advisory Committee member Shivnath Biyani confirmed that the train schedule will be announced shortly and operations are expected to begin in the next two weeks.

“This Vande Bharat train will connect Kolhapur to Mumbai and complete the journey in nearly 7 hours. It’s a huge step forward in enhancing connectivity and comfort for the people of this region,” Biyani said.

With this new addition, Kolhapur is set to join the list of cities enjoying the benefits of India’s semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains, promising faster, safer, and more comfortable travel.