Pune and Mumbai need to be better connected

MCCIA executive director general Anant Sardeshmukh and its railway,road traffic management committee chairman Chandmal Parmar highlighted the need for developing railway stations and providing adequate toilet and drinking water facilities at stations. “We have been liasoning with the railways for increasing the frequency of trains between Pune and Mumbai,but there has been little response from them,” Parmar said.

He said the MCCIA had demanded that there should be a train every hour during peak hours and one every one-and-a-half hours during non-peak hours. “The railways had told us that maintenance and signal works,among others,are carried out between 11 am and 3 pm. Hence,during this time,there is no possibility of increasing frequency of local trains.”

“The introduction of hourly trains between Pune and Mumbai will benefit thousands besides generating revenue for railways. The Railways should introduce superfast trains from both ends between 10 am and 11.30 am,12.30 pm and 2 pm and 7 pm and 7.30 pm,” MCCIA officials said.