Aurangabad, March 3:
Only Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are given priority by South Central Railway (SCR). Marathwada does not get anything. So there is no point in Marathwada being categorised under SCR. The railway minister is from Maharashtra. Still, demands are being ignored. Marathwada has no choice but to move to the Central Railway zone for the development of railways, said experts in an online webinar organized by Marathwada Janata Vikas Parishad (MJVP) on Wednesday.
This online webinar was held on 'Railway development in Marathwada'. Speaking in the webinar MJVP president Dr Venkatesh Kabde said, "Marathwada got a negligible share in the budget. Marathwada should be included in the central railway zone. The public representatives should pay attention to this. MP Dr Bhagwat Karad said that the railway minister is from Maharashtra. The issues must be presented before him in detail. The demand to connect Marathwada to the central railway zone is justified. We have to show in writing how injustice is done to Marathwada. We will all meet the railway minister and demand to connect Marathwada to the central railway. There will be a pitline in Aurangabad, said Dr Karad said. MP Dr Fauzia Khan, president of Marathwada railway development committee Omprakash Verma, Research scientist Swanand Solanke, Umakant Joshi, Ramrao Thadke, Shyamsunder Manadhana and other representatives of railway organizations from Marathwada participated.
Janshatabdi should be extended to Nanded
Electrification, doubling works are progressing at a slow pace. These works should gain momentum. Railway development is important for the development of Marathwada. A training centre should be started at Purna. Janshatabdi express should be extended to Nanded. We will have to fight for the development of the railway in Marathwada said, MP Fauzia Khan.
Demands in the webinar
-The rate of return of the railway should be relaxed for Marathwada.
-There should be a separate board for railway issues in the state cabinet.
-The railway minister should convene a meeting to hear the railway issues in Marathwada.
-Extension of 'Bhusawal to Kharagpur Corridor' to Aurangabad.
-Immediate commencement of work on sanctioned pit line at Latur.
-Completion of doubling of Manmad-Parbhani railway line with electrification