Two newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs from Pune district have decided to take up the long-pending issue of increasing the frequency of Pune-Lonavala local trains with Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and raise the issue in Parliament. Shirur MP Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil and Maval MP Gajanan Babar would not only draw the minister’s attention to the problems faced by Pune commuters, but also press for direct trains from Pune to North India, Rajasthan in particular.

While Adhalrao is getting ready to demand an increase in the frequency of the Pune-Lonavala local, Babar supporters said they have already forwarded a list of demands to the Railway Ministry, the Railway General Manager, Mumbai, and the Divisional Railway Manager, Pune.  “We have handed over a letter demanding immediate increase in frequency of local trains. In fact, Babar was supposed to hold a meeting with the railway general manager in Mumbai last week, but it was postponed at the last minute,” said Shiv Sena district deputy chief Sarang Kamthekar.

Babar said besides increasing frequency of locals, he is seeking direct trains to cities like Jaipur and Jodhpur. “When Lalu Prasad was the railway minister, he got trains for people from Bihar. We are going to seek trains for the lakhs of North Indians in Pune for whom there are fewer trains to head home,” said Babar.

The Shiv Sena MP said the people from Rajasthan are forced to change trains to reach Pune and that’s why he is seeking a direct train to the Pink City. He said he would take up all the demands of commuters with the Railway Minister and raise them in the Lok Sabha as well.

... contd.