Though it failed to meet several expectations, the railway budget has given Pune a reason to cheer about. The budget brings six new trains connecting Pune. Of these, three will be either originating at Pune or will have Pune destination.
In the railway budget presented amidst a lot of chaos, railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge has also announced a survey of new routes connecting Pune. The much-awaited proposal of doubling of railway tracks from Pune to Kolhapur has also been announced in the interim budget, which will benefit a large numbers of trains which are currently using single track.
Apart from that, survey for the new lines from Pune to Ahmednagar via Kedgaon as well as Karad to Pandharpur and Pune-Baramati via Saswad and Jejuri has been announced in the budget.
Hemant Tapale, president of Pune-Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh said, "All announcements are made keeping election in mind. It looks like the city has got new trains, but there is nothing for the locals. We were expecting a new train between Pune and Mumbai where the number of passengers is growing consistently, but the railway ministry has not addressed that issue."
Harsha Shah, president of Railway Pravasi group said, "We welcome the announcements of new trains, but it should not remain mere an announcement. The railway ministry should make these trains operational as early as possible. We had a lot of expectations, but we have got very little."
The trains for Pune
- Howrah-Pune, an air conditioned bi-weekly train, to run via Nagpur
- Pune-Lucknow Express, also a weekly train, will travel covering Khandwa, Bhopal, Bina, Jhansi and Kanpur
- Gorakhpur-Pune Express, a weekly train, will travel run Kanpur, Bina and Manmad
- Three other trains, all weekly --- Mumbai-Chennai Express, Hubli-Mumbai Express, Yeshwantpur-Jaipur AC Express -- will be passing through Pune city
){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}