Indian Railways started this train in the idea of providing a dedicated Pune to Delhi full AC train but sadly this train doesn't really serve the actual purpose and needs of people. I am saying this from my personal experience of staying 4 years in Pune, that this train is not at all useful for the Puneities who wish to travel to North India.
The departure timing from Pune is so bad and awkward that literally either you have to spent the previous whole night on/near the Pune Railway station. For the western suburbs area people of Pune like Pimpri-Chinchwad, akurdi, khadki, the 1st local train reaches Pune after 6.30am whereas for eastern suburbs areas like manjuri, Hadapsar, uruli, Loni kalbhor...
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people to reach so early Pune junction is nearly impossible as first PMPML bus from Hadapsar depot leaves after 4.15-4.30am. So the only option left is costly and infrequent ola/uber cabs. This was the only reason why for traveling from Pune to Delhi, Goa SF express was always kept as last option due to awkward timings at Pune.
At the end of the day, the situation more or so remains the same. Pune people still are largely dependent on over-crowded Jhelum express or Mumbai Delhi based trains.
Can't CR and NR think about making the departure of this Darshan express from Pune a little bit late, at least at about 6-6.30 am and divert it via KJT-Panvel-BSR route so that it gets saved from early morning EMU rush around KYN? Even if CR changes the timings, still this train can reach NZM at the same time because of the huge amount of slack timings provided between BRC-RTM and KOTA-NZM.