Maharashtra: Panchavati Express completes 50 years; nostalgia rolls in

The iconic Panchavati Express one of Maharashtrarsquos most loved intercity trains turned 50 this weekend mdash a milestone that evokes memories of its glorious past technological transitions and the deep cultural connection it shares with the Nashik regionLaunched on November 1 1975 the Panchavati Express was named after the sacred Panchavati area in Nashik associated with the Ramayana Over five decades it has carried countless daily commuters devotees and business travellers between Manmad Junction and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CSMT evolving into much more than a train mdash a symbol of reliability and pride for the people of Maharashtrarsquos heartlandFirsts and memoriesIn its early years the Panchavati Express was a semifast train Between 1975 and 2006 it made a scheduled 20minute power change halt at Igatpuri where the electric locomotive from Mumbai would give way to DC locomotives that were swapped with AC locomotives at Igatpuri and vice versa either way with WCG2 class locomotives acting as banker locomotives in the Thull ghat section For many rail enthusiasts that halt remains a nostalgic past of Indian Railwaysrsquo transition era recalled Kaushik S Dharwadkar a lifelong rail enthusiastOldtimers recall a curious signboard near Manmad Junction once placed adjacent to a watering well dating back to the Great Indian Peninsula Railway GIPR era The board facing the Up mainline read in bold letters ldquoDriver of Panchavati Express Pickup Speedrdquo It stood as a symbol of punctuality mdash an unwritten rule that this train would not be delayedDoubledecker pastFew may remember that the Panchavati Express once sported doubledecker coaches making it one of the rare express trains to do so in India Its reputation for ontime performance and disciplined operation earned it the affectionate nickname ldquoOffice Train of NashikrdquoEllora connectionLong before gauge conversion reshaped the regionrsquos railways the Panchavati Express was intricately linked to the Ellora Express on the old meter gauge route between Nizamabad and Manmad JunctionA ceremony commemorating 50 years of the Panchavati Express in Nashik PICBy Special ArrangementIn those days travellers from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Aurangabad would board the Ellora Express at 230 am reaching Manmad by 545 am mdash just in time to catch the Up Panchavati Express to Mumbai In the reverse direction the coordination was equally precise the Down Panchavati arrived at Manmad before passengers switched to the 96 Up Ellora Express departing at 1 am reaching Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar by 348 amldquoThe last metergauge train from Manmad to Kachiguda ran in 1991rdquo recalled Dharwadkar whose family memories are intertwined with these journeys ldquoI was just two years old then halfawake under the dim tungsten glow inside the maroon MG metre gauge coaches changing trains at Manmad Itrsquos a memory etched foreverrdquoLegacy of a legendNo story of the Panchavati Express is complete without mentioning the late Bipin Gandhi the dynamic founder of the Nashik Pravasi Sangh Nashik Passengersrsquo Association A tireless voice for rail users Gandhi transformed the way Nashikrsquos daily commuters engaged with the Indian RailwaysUnder his leadership the association became one of the most effective passenger advocacy groups in the country He was instrumental in securing vital improvements to the Panchavati Express over the decades mdash from better coach maintenance and reserved seating for regular commuters to timely service restoration after disruptionsGandhirsquos proactive initiatives extended beyond railways he was also involved in civic ventures like promoting organised bus connectivity to the railway station ensuring Nashikrsquos working community could access Mumbai with ease His meticulous documentation persistent correspondence with railway officials and pursuit of passenger welfare are still discussedGolden yearsToday the Panchavati Express continues to run with modern Linke Hofmann Busch coaches and highspeed electric locomotives maintaining its reputation for punctuality comfort and reliability For Nashik and Manmadrsquos business community it remains the preferred daily link to Mumbai mdash a legacy 50 years strongThe train was launched at an impressive and colourful function held at Victoria Terminus now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus by SB Chavan the thenchief minister of Maharashtra It was inaugurated as a triweekly superfast train before a large gathering Central Railway General Manager BD Mehra presided over the function and Chavan travelled on the inaugural train up to KalyanNot just a trainAs it completes its golden jubilee the Panchavati Express is more than a train Itrsquos a living heritage mdash carrying not just passengers but decades of stories discipline and devotion along the rails that connect Maharashtrarsquos heart to its capital