New DRM faces daunting task of improving image & infrastructure

For the past few years,Pune has been getting a raw deal in the railway budget in terms of starting new train services. This has often been blamed on poor infrastructure at Pune station which cannot handle additional traffic. However,there has hardly been any allocation in last two budgets to improve infrastructure and build additional lines at Pune station.

According to activists,the apathy of railway ministers and failure of senior railway officials to get work done through railway board are major reasons for the division being ignored in consecutive budgets.

Harsha Shah of Railway Pravasi Group said,“Senior officials like divisional railway manager,additional railway manager and general manager (Central Railway) are not bothered because they have a tenure of 1-2 years following which they are transferred. They hardly take any interest in following up projects with the railway board and despite contributing a major chunk of revenue,the division hardly get funds. Had the officials been persistent with their demands,there would have development in the division.”

The DRM faces a tough task of completing projects that were sanctioned and are yet to start or are progressing at a snail’s pace.

The two foot-overbridges (FOBs) that were sanctioned two years ago are yet to materialise.

While the outgoing DRM Vishal Agarwal had said the work on FoBs will start after monsoon,people doubts if these FoBs will see light of the day.

“On several occasions,funds were allotted for construction of FoB’s but they were diverted for other purposes,” said Shah.

Commuters say another urgent step that the DRM needs to address is the issue of touts at the station.

“We have been complaining about illegal agents at the reservation centres. The RPF police and ticket issuing clerks are hand in glove with these touts. The DRM should urgently address this issue,” said Subhash Agarwal,a commuter.

Passengers have also been demanding new general ticket booking counters and installation of additional chairs at platforms among others. The security at the station also needs to be beefed up by plugging numerous entry points — authorised and unauthorised.

“In present situation,anti-social elements can execute any evil design at their will,” said Shah.

Previous DRM transferred to Central Railway

Suneet Sharma,who has taken over charge as the divisional railway manager,Pune Division,has replaced Vishal Agarwal,who has been transferred to Mumbai-headquartered Central Railway. Sharma has worked in various capacities with the Central Railway and Western Railway. He has also worked as ADRM of Mumbai Division. Before taking up the new assignment,he had shouldered the responsibility of Chief Workshop Manager at Parel Mumbai.