Duronto Express will no longer be a non-stop train because the railways has allegedly given in to political pressure and passenger demand.

A railway official said the time taken by a Duronto would remain the same because current operational halts will be converted into commercial stops.

"The decision has been taken because of passenger demand from areas where Duronto trains don't stop," a railway ministry official said from Delhi. "We plan to implement it from January."

Twenty-three Duronto trains, including the six from Calcutta that connect the city with Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore, will have several stops from January, a railway board official said.

Another ministry official, however, said the decision had been taken because of pressure from MPs across the country who want stops within their constituencies.

"Several MPs cutting across party lines have been demanding commercial stops for Duronto trains between two connecting cities," the official said. "Finally, the ministry yielded to the pressure."

At present Duronto has only operational halts - stations where trains stop for cleaning, refilling of potable water and maintenance.

No passenger is allowed to board or get off the train at these stations.

Passengers can board a train with a valid ticket from a station only if it is a commercial stop.

But the railways is worried that more MPs and politicians would make similar demands. The railways will then be forced to increase the number of stops, leading to an increase in travel time, the official said.

"Travel time is less than other trains because there are no commercial stops between two points," he said. "The moment this facility is taken off, there would be delays because more stations will be added. And Durontos will become like any other train."

Moreover, once passengers are allowed to board the train from various stations, there could be complaints of unauthorised people boarding the Duronto - a common problem in long-distance trains.

But those like Bidyut Baran Mahato, the BJP MP from Jamshedpur, couldn't care less.

Mahato told Metro that he had in Parliament raised the demand for a stop in Tatanagar "a number of times".

"I met railway minister Suresh Prabhu and told him Tatanagar is an important station... many youths go to Mumbai and Pune to study. So, they should be allowed to board a Duronto," Mahato said from Jamshedpur. "Duronto stops here for 10 to 15 minutes... they need not detain it longer than that."

Mahato claimed the minister had discussed the matter with senior officials and promised to consider it.

By the end of August, the ministry sent out directives to all its divisions about adding stops to the 23 Duronto trains.

Another official said about 5 to 10 per cent of the seats remain vacant in Durontos because of point-to-point connectivity. "The trains will run to capacity once the new system is implemented."

Mamata Banerjee as railway minister had launched Duronto in 2009.

The Sealdah-Delhi Duronto takes 16 hours to reach New Delhi from Calcutta while Rajdhani Express takes 17.

"The concept of Duronto was fast and non-stop connectivity between two Metros. Now with stops, the train will lose its significance," a former railway minister said.

Politicians have used the railways as a medium to gain popularity on numerous occasions in the past.