###MP Dr. Rawat Meets Railway Minister; Seeks Expansion of Vande Bharat

Udaipur: Member of Parliament Dr. Mannalal Rawat met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday and held an extensive discussion on expanding railway facilities for Udaipur and the Mewar region. He urged the minister to construct the proposed Umarada Railway Yard on nearby government land, introduce multiple new trains connecting Mewar to South India, and expedite development works critical for strengthening Udaipur’s rail network. The Railway Minister assured that all proposals would be examined with due seriousness.

Proposal to Extend Vande Bharat to Surat

Dr. Rawat requested the extension of the proposed Udaipur–Asarwa Vande Bharat service up to Surat (Gujarat). He said the train, which is scheduled to depart Udaipur at 6:10 am and reach Asarwa at 10:25 am, waits there for more than seven hours before returning at 5:45 pm. Extending it to Surat would ensure optimum utilization and benefit lakhs of traders and passengers from Mewar and Vagad who frequently travel to Surat and surrounding regions.

He further highlighted that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the electrification of the Udaipur–Ahmedabad rail track, residents of South Rajasthan are hopeful for direct rail connectivity to Surat, Mumbai, and South India to begin soon.

Demand for Doubling of Udaipur–Chanderiya Track

Dr. Rawat stressed the need for doubling the Udaipur–Chanderiya (Chittorgarh) railway track, given Udaipur’s global tourism prominence and the rapidly increasing footfall of domestic and international travelers. While the Ajmer–Chanderiya section is currently being doubled, extending the project to Udaipur would greatly enhance capacity and improve travel efficiency.

Requests for New Train Services from Udaipur

Drawing attention to public demand, Dr. Rawat sought improved rail connectivity between Udaipur and major Indian cities. His key proposals included:

Udaipur–Yognagri Rishikesh (19809/10): Currently operating thrice a week—should be extended to Dehradun and made daily, with additional coaches.

Udaipur–Banda Terminus (22902/01): Also operating three days a week—should be made daily and rerouted via Ahmedabad.

Agra–Asarwa Express (01919/20): Previously operated with nearly 100% occupancy—should be reintroduced permanently.

Ajmer–Kathgodam (Ranikhet Express 15013/14): Should be extended up to Udaipur.

Gujarat Mail (12901/02): With a long 17-hour halt at Ahmedabad, this Mumbai–Ahmedabad–Mumbai train should be extended up to Udaipur.

Request on Land Acquisition for Umarada Railway Yard

Regarding the proposed railway yard at Umarada station, Dr. Rawat informed the minister that the current land under acquisition—13.7401 hectares—is largely inhabited by tribal and low-income families reliant on agriculture and local employment. Acquisition would impact nearly 300 farmers and could threaten local livelihoods.

He appealed to the Railway Ministry to consider alternative government land available near the station to minimize displacement and protect the interests of local residents.