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The Indian Railways network is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world. While on one hand the country has trains like Vivek Express running from Dibrugarh in Assam to Kanyakumari, which takes about 75 to 80 hours to cover a distance of more than 4,000 kilometres, on the other hand, Indian Railways also has a route which ends in the blink of an eye. This track of just 3 kilometers is considered to be the shortest railway journey in the country, which the train takes only 7 to 9 minutes to complete. However, the most surprising thing about this journey is its ticket fare and the reservation system of the Railways.
Nagpur to Ajni: Country’s shortest rail section
This unique and shortest rail route is located in Nagpur city of Maharashtra. This journey is between Nagpur Main Railway Station (Nagpur Junction) and Ajni Railway Station. The total distance of tracks between the two railway stations is just 3 kilometers. When a train departs from Nagpur, the passengers are not even able to hold their seats properly when the platform of Ajni station comes into view. Locally, this distance covered by road by car or auto may take 15 to 20 minutes due to traffic, whereas the train covers it in just 7 to 9 minutes.
Why are people shocked to hear the fare for a journey of 3 kilometres?
The most interesting thing about this route is its fare structure. Many people think that the fare would be nominal for a distance of 3 kilometres, but if a passenger books a ticket between Nagpur to Ajni in long distance superfast or premium trains, he has to pay as per the minimum base fare and reservation rules of the Railways.
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General/Unreserved Ticket: The ticket for this 3 kilometer journey in passenger and unreserved category costs approximately between ₹ 30 to ₹ 60.
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Sleeper Class: For this small section in sleeper coach, the passenger has to pay around ₹ 145 to ₹ 175 including minimum base fare and reservation charge.
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Third AC (3A): When traveling in AC 3-tier, this cost reaches around ₹ 505 to ₹ 555.
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Second AC (2A): The cost of this 7-minute journey in a 2-tier AC coach ranges from approximately ₹710 to ₹760.
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First AC (1A): If a passenger books a seat in the First AC coach for this 3 km distance, the ticket price including minimum fare and superfast charge reaches ₹1,155 to ₹1,255.
A ticket costing more than a thousand rupees for a journey of just 7 minutes makes this route the biggest center of discussion on social media and among passengers.
Are there any special local trains running on this route?
It is often a misconception that a special dedicated shuttle train of only 3 km is run between Nagpur and Ajni. The reality is that Nagpur Junction is a major railway hub located in the heart of the country, where hundreds of long distance express, mail and superfast trains pass through, connecting North, South, East and West India. Stoppage of many of these major trains is also given for 2 minutes at Ajni station, which comes just after Nagpur. Since this section is included in the main ticketing network of IRCTC, passengers can technically reserve seats between these two stations as well.
Why is this station very useful for local passengers?
Ajni station acts as a lifeline for lakhs of citizens living in the south and south-west area of Nagpur city. To avoid the huge crowd and jam at Nagpur main station, a large number of daily commuters, students and suburban working people prefer to alight or board the train at Ajni station itself. When many long distance trains leave Nagpur and reach Ajni, passengers from the inner parts of the city get down at this station and leave for their destination.
Another historical identity of Ajni Railway Station
Nagpur-Ajni rail section is not only known for being the shortest distance but also as an excellent model of women empowerment. Ajni Railway Station has been one of the few stations of Central Railway, whose operation has been handled entirely by a team of women employees. From station master, ticket checker, commercial clerk to Railway Protection Force (RPF) and support staff, the command has been in the hands of women personnel.
Short distances, common rules: the logic of railway fare structures
As per Indian Railways rules, a certain ‘Minimum Chargeable Distance’ and base fare is applicable when booking tickets in reserved class. Whether the passenger travels 3 kilometers or 50 kilometers, mandatory components like superfast charge, reservation fee and GST are added to the total ticket price. This is the reason why the AC ticket for this short journey of 3 kilometers becomes a topic of discussion like air travel.