2 weeks ago
Central Railway Faces Broad Demands to Upgrade Pune Network
Railway officials met 13 Members of Parliament from the Pune and Solapur divisions on Wednesday.
The MPs asked for faster work on many railway projects.
Murlidhar Mohol said Pune station should be prepared for more passengers and may need six new platforms.
He also asked for stronger security, cleaner facilities and permanent fixes for flooding during the monsoon.
He wants better facilities at Hadapsar and Khadki stations and improved taxi and auto-rickshaw arrangements.
Shrirang Appa Barne asked for more trains, more coaches and the return of train stops that ended during the Covid period.
He also wanted waterlogged subways and railway lines near Pune and Lonavala improved.
Amol Kolhe asked officials to continue the Pune-Nashik rail project and build a freight corridor for industrial areas.
The MPs also discussed protecting railway land and improving important trains such as the Deccan Queen.
Murlidhar Mohol urged Central Railway to accelerate Pune-area projects and design six additional Pune station platforms for future passenger growth.
He sought stronger security, permanent monsoon drainage solutions, earlier platform announcements, improved amenities and action against overcharging and poor catering.
Mohol also demanded facilities at Hadapsar and Khadki, protection and planned commercial use of railway land, and better transport services outside Pune and Hadapsar stations.
Shrirang Appa Barne called for repairs to waterlogged subways, additional coaches and train stops, more Pune-Lonavala locals, restored halts and faster third- and fourth-line work.
Amol Kolhe renewed demands for the Pune-Nashik rail project and a Chakan freight corridor linking industrial areas with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
- Who
- Central Railway officials and 13 MPs from the Pune and Solapur divisions, including Murlidhar Mohol, Shrirang Appa Barne and Dr Amol Kolhe.
- What
- A meeting about accelerating railway projects and addressing passenger safety, station facilities, train services, railway land and freight connectivity.
- Where
- The Divisional Railway Manager’s office in Pune, with demands concerning Pune, Hadapsar, Khadki, Pune-Lonavala and nearby industrial areas.
- When
- Wednesday; the articles do not specify a date.
- Why
- To respond to passenger growth, overcrowding, waterlogging, security concerns, inadequate facilities, traffic congestion and delayed railway projects.
Key facts
- Meeting participants
- Thirteen MPs from the Pune and Solapur divisions attended the meeting.
- Central Railway officials
- General Manager Rajeev Shrivastava, Deputy General Manager K.K. Mishra, senior departmental officials and the Pune and Solapur Divisional Railway Managers attended.
- Pune station expansion
- Six additional platforms were proposed, with Mohol calling for long-term planning based on future passenger growth.
- Security requests
- Mohol sought closure of unauthorised entrances, a stronger boundary wall, more CCTV cameras and round-the-clock Ticket Collectors and Railway Protection Force personnel at entrances.
- Station improvements
- Requests included permanent solutions for waterlogging and leakage, platform announcements at least 30 minutes in advance, better cleanliness and toilets, and passenger facilities at Hadapsar Platform 2 and Khadki.
- Train requests
- Mohol sought the return of the Deccan Queen Express to Pune station’s Platform 1, while Barne sought restored halts, more local trains and additional express-train coaches.
- Industrial connectivity
- Kolhe proposed a Dedicated Freight Corridor linking Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ranjangaon MIDC, Chakan MIDC and Talegaon MIDC to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
Quotes
Shrirang Appa Barne
MP from Shiv Sena representing Maval constituency
“Railways in Pune and the surrounding areas are an integral part of the daily lives of lakhs of passengers. While accelerating development projects, top priority must be given to passenger safety, basic amenities and service quality.”
indianexpress.com
“Considering the inconvenience to passengers on the Pune‑Lonavala route, additional local trains should be started during afternoon hours. Train stops discontinued during the Covid period must also be restored.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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