Keralites welcome new train

Several organisations from the city had approached the Railway Ministry. After the Konkan railway route was started,about 35 trains going from Pune to Kerala got diverted via Panvel. So,the Malayalees in Pune were facing a lot of problems,” said Babu Nair,Congress corporator and standing committee member of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

“We had to travel to Panvel,which does not have good connectivity,to board a train or take the Kanyakumari or Poorna Express from Pune,which is once a week,” said Nair.

T P Vijayan,president of Pune Malayali Federation,said,”Our effort has finally yielded result. The PMF had pursued the matter over the years with the Railway Ministry,chief ministers of Kerala and Maharashtra,MPs and ministers,” Vijayan said.

K Harinarayan,PR committee chief,said the superfast train will reach Ernakulam in 20 hours unlike the Poorna Express which takes 26 hours. “The new train will go to Panvel from Pune,then Roha,Chiplun,Madhgaon on its journey to Ernakulam,” Harinarayan said.

M V Parameswaran,chairman,social and welfare,Pune Malayali Federation,said the demand of Malayalees has finally been fulfilled. “Various associations have been requesting for a new train to Kerala. The rail connectivity will help lakhs of Malayalees in the region,” he said.

Madhu Nair,president,Pune Keraleya Samaj,said,” After the Konkan railway was introduced,the frequency of the trains going from Pune to Kerala had decreased. I am happy that the railway ministry has taken cognisance of our demand,” he said.

Longer route of Jaipur train draws flak

The longer route of the Jaipur-Pune Express has come under fire. Harsha Shah,president of the Railway Pravasi Group,said the train would take the Pune-Baroda-Ratlam-Nagda-Sawai Modhapur-Mathura-Agra route to Jaipur. This would take about 25 to 27 hours. However,while returning,the train would take a longer route of Ajmer-Chittorgarh- Bhilwara-Udaipur-Nathdwara-Ahmedabad- Baroda-Pune. “This is probably the ‘ring rail’ of the railways,” she said. However,she welcomed the decision to introduce four new trains from Pune.