Manohar Punja Patil, president of the Nashik Zilla Railway Pravasi Sanghatana and member of the divisional railway advisory committee, Nashik, said the city has always been ignored in the past budgets.
Nashikites have pinned their hopes on a direct train from Nashik to Mumbai and a railway terminus for the city in this year’s railway budget.
Manohar Punja Patil, president of the Nashik Zilla Railway Pravasi Sanghatana and member of the divisional railway advisory committee, Nashik, said the city has always been ignored in the past budgets.
“We need a direct train from Nashik to Mumbai that will reach before Panchvati Express, a terminus for Nashik and the cancellation of supercharge for superfast trains. We need a strong and united political representation for Nashik, which is lacking,” he said.
Echoing similar views, a daily commuter to Mumbai, Priya Tuljapurkar, said over 8,000 people commute to Mumbai daily from Nashik. “But there is only one train, Panchavati Express, originating from Manmad. A separate train from Nashik Road to Mumbai is needed. Imagine the plight of senior citizens or pregnant women, who commute daily for work in a jam-packed train. Don’t they deserve a comfortable journey?” she said.
Considered to be a fast developing city in Maharashtra, Indian Railways has not done much in the past to improve either the infrastructure or the train connectivity from the Nashik Road station.
Railway officials said the Nashik Road station is the largest revenue earning one in Bhusawal division and has more number of pass holders than Pune, who commute to Mumbai daily.
Rahul Sonawane, a regular train passenger who has studied rail scenario around Nashik, said Nashik did not get much in the last budget. “Expectations for Nashik are many, looking at the city’s strategic location and its economic potential. Osmanabad, Nanded, Amravati and Kolhapur are some examples of small cities which either have a terminus or from where trains start, but Nashik lacks this facility.
“A new Pune-Surat (via Nashik) line will connect South India to Gujarat and Rajasthan. Nashik-Pune (via Kalyan) by train is not convenient. It takes more time. Instead a direct line will be better, for which we hear that satellite surveys have been done,” he added.
Nashik MP Sameer Bhujbal said a demand has been placed for an independent cargo railway terminus at Odha in Nashik. It would cover the onion and grape belts of the district. At present, there is a lot of congestion at the Nashik Road railway station for passengers and cargo. Considering the freight traffic from industries and agro products, there is a need for separate terminus.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}