news in Times of India
click here
Daily Pune-Nanded train via city soon
Prasad Joshi | TNN | Mar 15, 2016, 09.02 AM IST
Aurangabad: Good news is in store for a large number of...
more... passengers travelling between Aurangabad and Pune, as the South Central Railway (SCR) is planning to introduce a daily train between Nanded and Pune via the city.
Making a formal announcement in this regard on Monday, SCR general manager Ravinder Gupta said the proposed train could be extended up to Mumbai in near future.
"We are working on the timing of the daily train. It would be finalised soon. The absence of a new pit-line was proving to be a hurdle in starting a daily train to Pune. But the desired facility is expected to be available soon," Gupta told newsmen on the sideline of his visit to Aurangabad railway station.
Gupta specifically mentioned former chief minister Ashok Chavan, who represents Nanded in the Lok Sabha, for his persuasion of starting a daily train to Pune.
As per the official timetable, a bi-weekly Pune Express and a daily passenger train are the only trains that ply between Aurangabad and Pune. While the Pune Express (train no. 12730) runs every Monday and Wednesday from Aurangabad, its departure timing of 1.22am is seen as an inconvenience for many. Moreover, the daily passenger train takes over 12 hours to reach Pune from Aurangabad.
Among other announcements, Gupta said Aurangabad has found a place in the list of 36 railway stations to be redeveloped by the SCR. "Aurangabad railway station will don a new look in 2016-17. Besides the Indian Railways, government bodies promoting tourism will also pitch in for changing the face of the station. As it is one of the upcoming model railway stations in the country, care would be taken to provide all the desired facilities to the passengers," he said, adding that Aurangabad assumes important for being an industrial hub and gateway to the world heritage sites of Ajanta & Ellora.
To a query highlighting various issues plaguing Mukundwadi railway station located within the city limits, Gupta, quoting his subordinates, said it would be also get a facelift as the construction of a fencing among other works are likely to commence soon.
While the railway ministry has launched a development, financing and monitoring scheme with the state government's help through joint ventures/special purpose vehicles to meet the growing demand for new projects and expedite the ongoing schemes, Gupta said laying a rail line between Jalna and Khamgaon is being considered as well. The proposed line is of around 150km having financial outlay of Rs 3,000 crore, sources in the railways said.
"The railway ministry has been continuously monitoring the progress of ongoing projects. It will be ensured that all the projects sanctioned during 2015-16 are commissioned before March 31. Moreover, a list of projects to be taken up during 2017-18 has been prepared as well," Gupta said.
When some members of passenger advocacy groups apprised the general manager about the issues associated with the proposed widening of 2.5km stretch from Kranti Chowk to Railway station, he said it would be addressed by holding a meeting with the officials of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation soon.
Nandkumar Ghodele, Rajkumar Somani, Santoshkumar Somani, Bhavesh Patel, Feroz Ali and Gautam Nahata among other activists and members of passenger advocacy groups met Gupta during his visit and presented their demands.
