Finally,a rail link to Shirdi,from Manmad via Puntamba

According to sources,the Railway Board has decided that Train No 1333,which goes to Manmad,will now go to Shirdi via Puntamba. The train,which departs from CST at 10.55 pm,is expected to reach Shirdi at 7.35 pm. In the return direction,it will leave Shirdi at night and reach Mumbai the next morning.

K K Sharma,chief administrative officer (construction),said: “All the major works have been completed. The final touches on the tracks and the station building at Shirdi are being done now.”

He said the Commissioner of Railway Safety’s inspection has been scheduled on February 10. “Hopefully,the line will be opened for traffic in February itself.”

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Sources said painting and plaster works are underway at the Shirdi station. “Air-conditioners are being installed at many offices. Also,hectometre posts are being put up along the tracks. Work is also being done on rails to make it smooth so that trains may run smoothly even at high speed.”

The 17.5-km Puntamba-Shirdi stretch is a long-pending project,which started in December 2003. Railways required 103.8 hectares of land for the stretch. The proposals were submitted in 2001 and the work was sanctioned. The total cost of the project is Rs 78 crore.

Pilgrims’ gain
Shirdi is famous for being the abode of Shirdi Sai Baba. Several thousand pilgrims visit the town every day and the number reaches lakhs during festival season.
There is no railway link to Shirdi at present and pilgrims reach the town by road after alighting at Kopargaon,Manmad and Nashik Road railway stations. The new broad guage line,originating from Puntamba on Daund-Manmad route will provide direct rail link to Shirdi from all parts of the country.