MLA Vikas Kumbhare, NVCC would like Duronto to be in the main station
Nagpur: The Nagpur Central Railway Division’s decision to run 12289-90 Nagpur-Mumbai-Nagpur Duronto Express from Ajni has come in for sharp criticism from the body of rail users and members of the public.
BJP MLA from Central Nagpur Vikas Kumbhare said the decision is not in people’s interest, particularly traders who prefer this train because of the few stops and convenient timings. “From Nagpur, four assembly segments from the town are gained. I’ll give my report to the divisional railway manager (DRM) on Monday, “he said.
“Some traders have protested to me calling for the train to be rolling back from platform number 8 as before. It is easier for them to enter the station side of Santra Market instead of Ajni where there is always logjam when they arrive and board the train, “said Kumbhare.
“If the railways want to run more Ajni trains, it should continue with lower-occupancy passenger trains,” he said.
Rail Yatri Sangh (RYS) passenger body president Brijbhushan Shukla submitted a memorandum to DRM Somesh Kumar on Wednesday requesting train service from Nagpur. “Diverting these luxury trains from Ajni will not only diminish the Nagpur station’s significance but is also inconvenient for passengers,” he said in a statement.
On 9 February Central Railway suddenly began running the Ajni train for three months until May. Beginning January 8, Duronto, which used to run beginning home platform number 8 on the Santra Market side, was temporarily moved to Ajni because of washable apron work on platform number 1 at the main station. Nevertheless, the train was moved to Ajni even as work on the apron was completed.
Shukla said separate DRMs promised to give Ajni facelift by building two more platforms, two pitline FOBs, enhanced passenger amenities, etc. However, despite an increase in train numbers, Ajni was not developed over the years.
“Now plans are in the pipeline to build Ajni as an intermodel station by road transport ministry and Central Railway. The project will however take at least five years to complete. We can’t afford to run premium Ajni trains till then, “Shukla said.
Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce (NVCC) Railway committee convener Pratap Motwani too opposed the move. “Railway officials are citing disputes with Sevagram Express and other trains over Duronto timings, but how far are trains on time?”Ajni station is overcrowded and lacks waiting rooms, adequate toilets, food stalls, required ramps, lifts, escalators, protection, facilities for moving different passengers and enough parking. Passengers face many obstacles. We’ll write to the railways on the issue and speak with the highways minister Nitin Gadkari, “he added.
