Pune: The Pune railway division has started work of ‘Yard Remodelling’ at the Pune railway station. The work began after new Divisional Railway Manager Renu Sharma took over charge recently. The last remodelling of Pune railway station was done in 2009.
The decision in this regard was taken in December 2017. However, it was delayed due to paucity of funds. It was supposed to start in January 2018 and completed by March 2019. Now, it has started in the first week of December 2019.
“We have started work of yard remodelling recently. The work will be carried out in four phases. The first phase has already been started on both sides - Mumbai end and Daund end. We were expecting to complete it soon,” Sharma told Sakal Times.
The yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic.
A senior officer of the Pune railway division on condition of anonymity said, “After completion of yard remodelling, the capacity of all six platforms will be 26 coaches. Only platform number 1 has a 26-coach rake capacity. The expenses will be Rs 50 crore for all platforms. This will ease congestion at the main station.”
“Two stabilising lines will come up from both sides. As the projects kick off, the two lines will be created so that trains can be halted there and directed to the platform,” said the officer.
Sharma’s predecessor Milind Deouskar had initiated the project. During his tenure, the division had drawn a map to start the project.
The officer said “As part of the sanctioned long-term plan, straightening of platforms 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be undertaken to ease train operations.”
“Enhancing length of platforms will boost train operations as due to non-availability of full-length platforms trains had to wait. The platform will be extended from the Mumbai side,” the officer added.
“The other aspect is the speed of trains. There are 10 kmph speed restrictions in the Pune section due to double diamond crossing tracks. The remodelling will cover many aspects, including easing tracks of the present criss-cross system,” the officer added.
