Pune: With ‘Smart City’ in the making, Pune railway division too has planned major redevelopment of Pune stations by spending Rs 50 crore on restructuring platforms under the remodeling of Pune yard.
“Pune yard remodeling is going to be a game changer. The last remodeling of Pune railway station was done in 2009. It will be finished by March 2019. After that, capacity of all six platforms will be 26 coaches. Only platform number 1 has a capacity of 26-coach rake,” said Milind Deouskar, Divisional Railway Manager, Pune.
“Apart from platform No 1, no other platform at the Pune Junction can accommodate a 26-coach rake at present. To accommodate 26-coach rake on platform number one, we had to change the platform of some train for this reason. But with all the platforms being extended now, this issue will be solved,” he 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. “The division has already drawn up a map and we are working on it. The expenses will Be Rs 50 crore for all platforms. This will ease congestion at the main station.
Enhancing length of platforms will boost train operations as due to non-availability of full-length platforms trains had to wait. As a result, the trains are delayed by 10 minutes,” said Deouskar. The long distance trains, which depart from Pune, have 26-coach rake and these trains stop only at platform number one. The platform will be extended from the Mumbai side, Deouskar added.
According to a source at the Pune railway division, “The Railways has decided to confirm wait listed passengers. Due to this, the railway has attached more than one bogey in each rake of long distance train.
“The length of rake is increased but the length of platform has not been not increased. When the work of extension of platform is complete the long distance trains with capacity of 26-coach rake will be accommodated on any platform.”
