CHENNAI: Superfast Duronto Express began its maiden run from Chennai Central Railway Station to the Capital on Monday. Union Home Minster P Chidambaram flagged off the train.
The Chennai Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin train is the second Duronto in the country. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had recently flagged off the first Duronto between Sealdah and New Delhi from Sealdah.
A host of ministers representing Tamil Nadu in the Union Cabinet participated in the inaugural function. But conspicuous by their absence were Union Ministers of State for Railways E Ahamed and K H Muniyappa. Mamta, who was earlier expected to flag off the train, later cancelled her trip to Chennai.
The fanfare and the buzz around the Duronto suggest that it would end up as a competitor for the prestigious Rajdhani Express. Both Duronto and Rajdhani are non-stop trains. While Duronto is expected to cover the distance between Chennai and New Delhi (2,177 km) within 27 hours and 55 minutes, Rajdhani takes 28 hours and 10 minutes for the same distance.
For Duronto, customers have to shell out just Rs 2,530 for an AC 2-tier ticket, which includes food charges; while a Rajadhani ticket in the same category costs Rs 2,625. A journey in 3-tier AC costs Rs 1,925 and Rs 2,005 in Duronto and Rajadhani, respectively.
Duronto also caters to the passengers who prefer to travel by sleeper class. The fare: Rs 760.
Duronto was an initiative announced in the Railway budget 2009-10. For the first time in Southern Railway, a train will have composite coach comprising AC 2-tier and AC 3-tier accommodating 24 and 40 passengers, respectively. This feature has been introduced in Duronto. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism (IRCTC) has introduced a menu-based cuisine in both AC and sleeper classes of Duronto.
Speaking on the occasion, Chidambaram said that the Union government would consider making Duronto a bi-weekly service. He said the government was keen on and committed to working for the development of the nation and the people.
The train has operational halts at Vijaywada, Warangal, Nagpur, Itarsi and Jhansi on both the directions. In all, it has 15 coaches: eight sleeper class, two AC3, four composite AC2+AC3 and a pantry car.
Train number 2269 Duronto Express will depart from Chennai on every Monday at 6.40 am and reach Nizamuddin on Tuesday at 10.35 am.