Ahead of the rail budget, the railway activists have reiterated the demands for better rail connectivity to Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune

AURANGABAD: Ahead of the rail budget, the railway activists have reiterated the demands for better rail connectivity to Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune.

Omprakash Varma of Marathwada Railway Vikas Samiti said, “People will take to streets if the upcoming budget ignores the demands for improved rail connectivity from the city.”

“Besides being tourist capital of the state,” Varma said, “Aurangabad is also a major industrial hub. Unfortunately, the entire region has been neglected by the rail authorities. Despite assurances from ministers and top railway officials, nothing has been done to improve the rail connectivity.”

The South Central Railways (SRC) had announced a new train to Mumbai via Aurangabad in March. Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu had also extended his support to the new train during his Marathwada visit in June. “But nothing has been done,” Varma said.
“Later, SCR general manager Vinod Kumar Yadav on September 28 had announced extension to Manmad-Mumbai superfast train upto Nanded via Aurangabad. All these assurances gave went into smoke,” he added.
“Besides fulfilment of connectivity related demands, we hope for substantial budgetary allocation for creating new infrastructure and improving passenger amenities at major stations,” said railway activist Raj Somani.

The activists also pressed for a need to expedite survey for rail line on Rotegaon-Kopargaon, Aurangabad-Sillod-Ajintha, Ambejogai-Kaij-Kalamb-Yermala and Pathri-Manwat-Sonpeth.