Like it happened elsewhere in the state a couple of days ago, only two of the 20 MPs invited turned up at the meeting called by the Central Railway general manager on Thursday, ahead of the railway budget to be presented on March 14.
The poor turnout indicates how serious our leaders are about the development of railways in the region.
BJP MP from Chandrapur Hansraj Ahir and Shiv Sena MP from Buldana Prataprao Jadhav were the only two who made it to the meeting. The Central Railway had invited 20 MPs falling under its Nagpur and Bhusawal divisions. Earlier, such meetings were held for Mumbai, Pune and Solapur divisions.
Railway officials said the poor turnout might be due to a meeting of all state MPs slated to be held in Mumbai on Friday. The meeting will be chaired by railway minister Dinesh Trivedi.
On last year's budget decision to make the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express a daily train, general manager Subodh Jain said the rake, for which it held up, is ready in Mumbai. "We are now waiting for a power car. We hope to get it in eight days. The decision will be implemented before the railway budget," he said.
Jain said that importance to Nagpur will depend on how the city develops as an industrial base and logistically. "Granting a couple of trains to Nagpur would not make sense. Railways will develop here if mines, industries and agriculture grow. However, as of now Nagpur is not developing in any of these areas," he said.
The top official said railways cannot develop in isolation. "We had expected big boost from Mihan but it is yet to go full steam," said Jain.
On the third line between Nagpur and Sewagram, Jain said a proposal has been sent to the Railway Board but "it'll depend on allocation of funds".
Ahir has demanded direct trains to north and south from the city. "I will also push for railway zone in Nagpur. Several areas like Nanded and Jalna, now under South Central Railway, want to be part of the Central Railway. I told officials they shouldn't cause hurdles," he said.
Jain said only the Parliament can take a decision on the zonal status. "A zone depends on how network is optimized. It also depends on the interstate disparity model," Jain said.
Ahir says, "If Nagpur, Solapur and Bhusawal divisions of the Central Railway are clubbed, I don't think staff will have any problems, rather there will not be any interstate hassles."
The BJP MP said Chandrapur has attained the status of 'mahanagar' and hence more trains need to halt there. Jain said that as per policy "mail/express trains will have no stoppages between 50 kms".
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