Minister Muralidhar Mohol Explores Feasibility Of Vande Bharat Express From Pune To Jodhpur, Junagadh; Reviews Key Projects
Reported by Sumit Singh
Pune, 8th July 2024: Muralidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Co-operation, visited the Pune Division of the Central Railway. He was welcomed by Indu Dubey, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Pune, who provided a comprehensive briefing on various completed and ongoing infrastructure projects.
During the briefing, Dubey highlighted the infrastructural works completed in the Financial Year 2023-24 and up to June 2024. She also detailed ongoing projects, new surveys for line doubling and new lines, station redevelopment initiatives by RLDA & Gate Shakti Unit, and the Pune-Nashik Semi High Speed project, which is currently under survey. Additionally, she mentioned the development of the 3rd and 4th line suburban corridor between Pune and Lonavala, pending cost-sharing approval from the Maharashtra Government.
The DRM also discussed critical areas needing cooperation, such as the widening of Hadapsar station approach road, removal of encroachments at Shivajinagar, Ghorpadi, Chinchwad, and Pune station (Tadiwala Road side), addressing traffic congestion at Pune station, and resolving issues with the underpass connecting multi-level parking to the station. She emphasized the need for an approach road to the Phursungi goods shed for better utilization and proposed a mega coaching terminal near Uruli station to integrate with the airport, bus terminal, metro road, and city expansion plans.
Mohol expressed appreciation for the detailed presentation and emphasized the importance of improving facilities and infrastructure at Pune and Shivajinagar railway stations. He assured assistance with state authorities and the Municipal Corporation on matters such as granting NOCs, land acquisition at Hadapsar and Loni, and obtaining consent for various works. He requested detailed information on projects requiring his support to facilitate decisions in consultation with state and central authorities.
The Minister also mentioned the ongoing development of a new airport in Mumbai, highlighting the potential benefits of enhanced connectivity between Pune and Mumbai. He stressed the need to explore the feasibility of introducing Vande Bharat Express trains from Pune to Jodhpur, Junagarh, and Keshavnagar due to high demand.
Muralidhar Mohol assured his full support in expediting the progress of pending projects. The meeting was attended by Indu Dubey, Divisional Railway Manager; Prakash Upadhyaye, CPM (GSU); Dr. Milind Hirwe, Sr. DCM; and all branch officers.
