Nagpur: In a move that would disturb passengers, the Nagpur division of Central Railway decided to extend the operation of 12289-90 Mumbai Duronto Express from Ajni Railway Station for the next three months from Sunday (February 9).
Due to the washable apron work on Platform No. 1 at the main station, the popular train, which used to run from Home Platform No. 8 on the Santra Market side, was temporarily operating from Ajni on 8 January.
On 6 February, the Central Railway completed the task of the washable apron in 26 days under the leadership of DRM Somesh Kumar, Chief Engineer (PCE) AK Agrawal, ADRM Jay Singh, Senior Divisional Engineer (Coordination) Pawan Patil and Pankaj Dhaware.
Duronto was expected to start operating again from the home platform, but for the next 3 months, it will depart and end at Ajni Platform No. 2. Sources said that Duronto can operate from Ajni on a regular basis with apron work for Platform 2 in pipeline and straightening of Platform 1 planned.
The decision did not go well with the passengers. Bharatiya Yatri Kendra (BYK) General Secretary Basant Shukla said, “Ajni Station lacks waiting rooms, proper toilets, food stalls, a requisite ramp, lifts, climbers, security, passenger facilities and ample parking. Senior citizens will face a lot of problems. “Former Ajni corporator Tanveer Ahmed said:” While operating trains from Ajni are a good move to make it a full-length terminal, this is being done even as the station lacks basic facilities. The decision appears to have been taken for the convenience of the railroad, as the Duronto maintenance facility is based in Ajni. Now, the train has to shuttle from Platform 8 to Ajni. “Assistant Commercial Manager (ACM) & railway spokesperson SG Rao said,” The decision was taken to ease congestion at Nagpur Station. There are several other trains on the line at 8.40 pm when the train departs. In addition, demand for the conversion of Ajni into a terminus is long pending. Duronto operation will push Ajni’s case to make it a terminus. “Rao added,” RPF staff will be posted to solve the parking problem. Similarly, there is already a small ramp to the end of Nagpur. Lighting at the station has also been enhanced. Coolies will also be available at Ajni an hour before the departure of the train. “Madanal Jagyasa, a regular traveler, felt that the absence of a ramp at the end of Wardha would create inconvenience for front-side coach passengers. “There is also no battery-operated Ajni car facility,” he said.
Facelift to Platform 1 Washable apron work on Platform 1 and Platform 1 was approved in 2015. Apron’s work on Platform 1, where all trains run north, began on 11 January and was finished on 6 February in two phases. Previously, the track was laid on wooden sleepers, which had been eroded by water, and the track specifications had not been properly maintained and had thus become unsafe. Now cement concrete sleepers have been laid over 500 meters away, making train operations secure.
