Title - Commuters want work completed in time - Commuter groups have welcomed the commencement of Pune-Daund

PUNE: Commuter groups have welcomed the commencement of Pune-Daund electrification work saying that it was necessary to upgrade rail network in surrounding areas of Pune city in view of increasing number of rail passengers from these parts. Once the work is over, a long pending demand of Lonavla-Pune-Daund local services would be fulfilled. The groups, however, said that the railway administration should complete the work within a stipulated period of time.

Railway Pravasi group president Harsha Shah, said, "The railway administration has already delayed the work. The electrification should have been done much earlier considering heavy train traffic on this route. The administration now has to take all necessary steps to complete it within a set time frame. The work should include AC DC conversion so that trains can run with maximum capacity and speed."

Shah also said that the railways should consider developing a terminus at Daund station because of its central location and make a provision for its expansion as well.

Ramesh Ingle, a frequent traveler on this route said, "Daily commuters on the Pune-Daund section including office-goers and students face a lot of hardships to reach their workplaces or colleges. The express trains that go via Daund do not stop at smaller stations like Hadapsar, Patas, Yevat, Kedgaon, Uruli. The passenger trains take a longer time and often run behind schedule. Commuters want special shuttle services to Daund, which would benefit them a lot."

Mangilal Solanki, vice president of Pune-Mumbai Pravasi Sangh said that the administration should develop a separate terminal at Pune station for Lonavla-Pune-Daund locals. Solanki said that there was hardly any connecting train between Lonavla and Daund at present and that many daily commuters who travel between Pune and Mumbai stay in Hadapsar and Loni areas. "These commuters do not find connecting trains to reach Pune station. The administration needs to resolve this issue in the long run," he said.

Solanki added that the administration should have the shuttle service until late night. This would benefit commuters of long distance trains.

An official from the railway administration said that some long distance trains have been given experimental halts at smaller stations on Pune-Daund track, to help commuters living or working in these parts.