Overview
- Union Minister V. Somanna flagged off the service via video conferencing from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi.
- The train operates weekly across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra with a journey of about 30 hours each way.
- The route features 31 stops, including key halts at Nellore, Guntur, Secunderabad, Bidar and Manmad.
- It establishes the first direct Shirdi connection for the south coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh, linking two major pilgrimage hubs.
- Officials say the train also connects Parli Vaijnath temple and aligns with expanded rail investment in Andhra Pradesh, including a higher average rail budget and large ongoing projects.