Commuter organisations, agitating for years seeking increase in frequency of local tains, have welcomed the move of Shirur MP Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil and Maval MP Gajanan Babar to take up the long-pending issue with Union Railway Minister and also in Parliament. Urging both the MPs to show utter seriousness on the issue, activists said over one lakh commuter who travel by the Pune-Lonavala locals daily will heave a big sigh of relief if additional local trains and their frequency indeed become a reality.

On Sunday, Adhalrao and Babar told The Indian Express that they would raise the issue in the Parliament and would also impress upon the Union Railway Minister to introduce additional local trains and increase the frequency of trains. In fact, Babar said he had already given a letter to the Railway Ministry, Central Railway general manager and Divisional Railway Manager conveying the demand of Pune commuters for introducing additional local trains and increasing the frequency of local trains.

Welcoming the initiative, Gulam Ali Bhaldar, president of the Chinchwad Pravasi Sangh, said despite best efforts of several commuter organisations over the years, there has been no success for anybody. “The railways have remained as unmoved as possible. No amount of petitions and memorandums work with the railways,” said Bhaldar. Pointing at the plight of commuters, Bhaldar said in 1974 when the local trains services were introduced there were only two EMUs. After a couple of years, two more were added. “But in last 30 years, there has been no addition to the number of local trains neither has the frequency of local trains been increased,” he said. Bhaldar said the two members of Parliament should forcefully take up the plight of Pune commuters with the Union Railway Minister and also in the Lok Sabha.

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