‘All attention is given to Mumbai, Pune left wanting’

After disappointment from successive budgets, Puneites are expecting that the city would be given its due this year. They want a number of new train services and are hoping that promises of 'world class' stations would be kept this time.

The Railway Pravasi groups that Newsline spoke to feel that due to Pune's proximity to Mumbai, the city has often been sidelined in the central budget. "The development of Shivajinagar railway station has been pending for long. We have also been asking for a third line between Lonavala and Shivajinagar. Till now, no work has been started," said Kanubhai Trivedi, Pune Pravasi Sangh. "Last year during budget there was a lot of commotion as Dinesh Trivedi resigned and Mukul Roy was appointed as the new Railway Minister. This time, I think it will be a populist budget. But let us wait and watch. Since Mumbai is so close, all the attention in budget is given to Mumbai and Pune is left wanting," he added.

Shortening the time of travel between the two cities is one of the long pending demands. "A direct train via Kalyan and Vasai should be introduced. The Pune-Daund electrification project finally started in December but the project should be executed on time," he said.

"Armed security guards in ladies compartments and compartments for differently-abled people is also necessary. A lot of theft is reported in these compartments during night," he said. "Daily trains from Pune to Ahmedabad and Pune to Indore is another demand we have been pushing for. The number of commuters have been increasing every year and the current trains are jam packed. We also need daily trains so that they stop at small stations enroute to destination," said Manjulata Mehta, Pravasi Sangh member.

World Malayalee Council president K Harinarayanan last month met Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and discussed the long pending demand of introducing daily trains from Pune to Kerala. "There are over 4 lakh Malayalees settled in Pune and at present there are just two trains to Ernakulum. The number of Malayalees is increasing as Pune is an educational hub and also a nice retirement place. Hence, we have been pushing for daily trains and also want the extension of current trains till Thiruvananthapuram," Harinarayanan said.

... contd.

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