Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Three surveys have been conducted for the much-anticipated Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Ahilyanagar railway line. The second survey has been finalised, and the route will include eight stations. However, during a meeting at the railway station on Saturday, it was revealed that Ranjangaon has not been included as one of the stations. Meanwhile, MP Dr Bhagwat Karad suggested to railway officials that a station should also be established at Ranjangaon.
Karad held a review meeting on Saturday regarding various railway issues under the South Central Railway. The meeting was attended by the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM, Nanded Division), Pradeep Kamle, and other railway officials. It was informed that the 85 km Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Ahilyanagar railway line has been diverted through Wambhorie to avoid tunnelling through the hills. Present at the meeting were BJP Railway Passenger Cell's Marathwada Coordinator Anant Borkar, Pralhad Paratkar, Damodar Parikh, Kailas Lokhande, and Marathwada Vikas Sangharsh Samiti President Vikiraaj Patil, among others.
Stations on the railway line
The railway has planned stations at eight locations along the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Ahilyanagar route. They are Sharnapur, Ambegaon, Yesgaon, Gangapur, Devgad, Newasa, Usthal Dumala, and Shani Shingnapur. Hence Karad suggested that a station should also be established at Ranjangaon, which is currently not included in the plan.
Encroachment of 70 houses on the pit line
At Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar station, a pit line for 16 coaches has already been constructed. To extend it for 18 coaches, removal of encroachments comprising 70 houses located about 100 meters towards the Manmad side of the station is necessary, said the DRM. He mentioned that further action will be taken in coordination with the municipal corporation. During the discussion on this issue, when it was noticed that the municipal corporation’s engineer left the meeting midway, MP Karad expressed his anger over the matter.
Follow the protocol next time
The inauguration of the Shivajinagar underpass was also conducted similarly (without proper protocol). The underpass work at Sharnapur–Bhangsimata Gad will be completed within the next three months. Karad advised railway officials to ensure that proper protocol is followed during the inauguration at that time.