Bhuj: The long-awaited passenger train service between Bhuj and Naliya is set to be launched soon, with a trial run scheduled for May 21. If the trial run is successful, regular services are expected to begin as early as next week, boosting connectivity and development in the Abdasa region of Kutch.

The 101-km-long railway line between Bhuj and Naliya had its electrification completed in February this year, and the report was submitted to the Western Railway headquarters at Churchgate, Mumbai, in March. On Wednesday, a team led by Ranjan Srivastava, a senior official from the Mumbai Railway Division, will inspect the track.

The trial train will depart from Bhuj at 9 AM and reach Naliya between 1 PM and 1:30 PM, stopping at all intermediate stations en route. While freight services on this route had already commenced last year and were later upgraded to electric traction, the introduction of passenger services marks a significant milestone. It will restore vital railway connectivity for residents of Abdasa after a long gap. DeshGujarat