Connectivity, infra demands to be raised

Aurangabad: Sanction for new trains to Mumbai and Ahmedabad, new routes and raising infrastructure were some of the key demands railway activists raised ahead of the crucial division-level meeting to be organized by the South Central Railway (SCR) on Wednesday.

Anant Borkar of advocacy group Marathwada Railway Action Committee said a new train that would run in the evening must be started between Aurangabad and Mumbai.

“The existing Mumbai-bound trains witness very heavy rush. The evening slot, which is vacant, can be aptly used for a new train,” he said.

Borkar also underlined the need for starting a train service from Aurangabad to Ahmedabad for the benefit of the trader community. “The SCR authorities must also consider starting a new train between Aurangabad-Panvel-Goa. Also, the extension of Manmad-Mumbai Rajya Rani Superfast Express till Aurangabad is pending for long,” he said.

Regarding the infrastructural demands at Aurangabad railway station, the committee has demanded an increase in the length of two platforms — number 4 and number 5. “The cargo point at Aurangabad railway station should be moved out to tackle the issue of space crunch. The space available after the shifting can be used for starting a new platform and raising a station building, among other facilities,” he said.

Veteran railway activist Omprakash Varma stressed upon the need to push pending rail projects.

“The 22-km rail route from Rotegaon to Kopargaon is pending for long. The railway authorities maintain that the survey work was sanctioned in 2017-18, but it is still in progress. No desired progress has taken place even on the proposed Indore-Manmad-Malegaon route. The official reply to a RTI query stated that the work has been transferred to Indian Port Rail Corporation Limited,” he said.

Varma said some key rail projects are stuck due to land acquisition issues. “Only around 37 km work of total 262-km long upcoming track on Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli is complete so far. The authorities maintain that the land acquisition is in progress for the remaining section between Solapurwadi and Parli. The project was expected to get over by April before the Lok Sabha election, but no desired progress has taken place,” he said.

The work on Wardha-Kalambh (40 km) stretch, which is a part of first phase of work of the route on Wardha- Yavatmal under Wardha-Yavamtla-Nanded rail track, is also pending due to the delay in the land acquisition process.