Vande Bharat reaches Botad via Gandhigram route from 17 August
Synopsis
Botad, long off the Vande Bharat map, got its first semi-high-speed rail link on 17 August after the Railway Board rerouted the Sabarmati–Veraval service through Gandhigram. The change bypasses the older Viramgam–Rajkot alignment and adds a new halt at Chital — a quiet but meaningful expansion of modern rail access deep into Saurashtra.
Key Takeaways
Vande Bharat Express began serving Botad, Gujarat on 17 August via the Gandhigram–Botad route.
26901 (Sabarmati–Veraval) and No.
26902 (return) now cover the revised alignment.
New route bypasses Viramgam , Surendranagar , and Rajkot for a more direct Ahmedabad–Saurashtra link.
A permanent halt has been added at Chital in Amreli district .
Electric train operations have also commenced on the Botad–Gandhigram corridor.
MLA Umesh Makwana has sought additional Vande Bharat routes to Mumbai and Delhi via Botad.
Gujarat's Botad district gained direct Vande Bharat Express connectivity on 17 August as the Sabarmati–Veraval service began running through the Gandhigram–Botad corridor, following a route revision approved by the Railway Board. The semi-high-speed train now links Botad to Ahmedabad and key destinations across Saurashtra, ending the town's exclusion from the premium rail network.
New Route and Train Numbers
The service operates as train No. 26901 on the Sabarmati–Botad–Veraval route and as No. 26902 on the return leg. The revised alignment takes the train through Gandhigram and Botad instead of the earlier path via Viramgam, Surendranagar, and Rajkot, offering a more direct corridor between Ahmedabad and Saurashtra. A permanent halt at Chital in Amreli district has also been added, extending Vande Bharat connectivity further into the region.
Flagging Off and Key Officials
Botad Assembly constituency MLA Umesh Makwana flagged off the Vande Bharat Express at Botad railway station. Bhavnagar MP Nimuben Bambhaniya and the Bhavnagar divisional railway manager were also present, alongside other elected representatives and railway staff. The event marked a significant moment for a district that has long sought improved rail access to major urban and commercial centres.
Who Benefits and Why It Matters
The new service is expected to benefit a broad cross-section of passengers — including traders, students, daily commuters, and devotees travelling to Somnath. Alongside the Vande Bharat service, electric train operations have also commenced on the Botad–Gandhigram route, according to officials, promising faster and more reliable travel on the corridor. This comes amid a wider push by the Centre to extend semi-high-speed rail coverage to smaller towns across Gujarat's interior.
Demands for Further Connectivity
MLA Makwana said he has made representations to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking enhanced railway facilities for Botad. Among the proposed routes are Bhavnagar–Botad–Vadodara–Surat–Mumbai and Bhavnagar–Botad–Sabarmati–Delhi. If approved, these services would give Botad and the broader Bhavnagar region direct modern rail links to four major cities. 'Continuous efforts are being made to provide the people of Botad with better railway facilities and more convenient rail connectivity with important cities as well as religious and economic centres of the state,' Makwana said.
Point of View
Rather than only launching new services. Whether that flexibility serves network efficiency or constituency arithmetic is worth watching. The addition of Chital as a permanent halt suggests incremental stop-expansion may become a template for extending Vande Bharat reach without fresh rolling stock. MLA Makwana's demands for Mumbai and Delhi routes are ambitious; their fate will signal how far that template can stretch.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Vande Bharat service now runs through Botad?
The Sabarmati–Veraval Vande Bharat Express (train No. 26901 and return No. 26902) now runs through Botad via the Gandhigram route. The revised alignment came into effect on 17 August following approval by the Railway Board.
What is the new route of the Sabarmati–Veraval Vande Bharat?
The train now travels via Gandhigram and Botad instead of the earlier path through Viramgam, Surendranagar, and Rajkot. The change is intended to provide a more direct connection between Ahmedabad and Saurashtra.
Who flagged off the Vande Bharat at Botad?
Botad Assembly constituency MLA Umesh Makwana flagged off the train at Botad railway station. Bhavnagar MP Nimuben Bambhaniya and the Bhavnagar divisional railway manager were also present at the event.
Which new halt has been added along the revised route?
A permanent halt at Chital in Amreli district has been added, extending Vande Bharat connectivity further into the Saurashtra region.
What additional Vande Bharat routes has MLA Makwana sought?
Makwana has sought services on the Bhavnagar–Botad–Vadodara–Surat–Mumbai and Bhavnagar–Botad–Sabarmati–Delhi corridors. He has made representations to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.
