Title - CR gets started on third track between Pune-Lonavla

PUNE: The Central Railway has set the ball rolling for the proposed project of the Indian Railways to lay 63-kilometre third track between Pune and Lonavla.
The construction wing of the engineering department of Central Railway has kicked off the survey work for the project, which is estimated to cost around Rs 500 crore.
Former railway minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the survey for the third line between Pune and Lonavla while presenting the railway budget for 2010-11.
"The survey has commenced a couple of months ago. It would identify land - government and private - which would have to be acquired for laying the third line," a central railway official told Sakal Times on Tuesday. The survey is expected to be completed in two years.
Once the survey is complete, the budget would be prepared for the project, and presented to the Railway Board for its approval.
At present there are two tracks between Pune and Lonavla railway stations, and with the traffic constantly increasing in this section, the third line would go a long way in easing the rail traffic congestions in a big way.
The Pune-Lonavla section is one of the busiest sections in Central Railway as far as rail traffic is concerned on this route.
This proposed track would have multiple uses.
“Once the track is laid, the frequency of the Pune-Lonavla locals would increase since one of the three tracks would be dedicated to run local trains," railway officials said.
Similarly, the long distance trains connecting Mumbai to Southern India would run faster after the third track comes up.
“At present, these trains have to stop for a longer time at Pune Railway station since both the existing tracks remain congested due to heavy traffic,” he said.
“The waiting period of such trains at Pune station would be reduced once the new track comes up,” the official added.
THIRD TRACK WILL SPEED UP TRAINS
The long distance trains connecting Mumbai to Southern India would run faster after the third track comes up. At present, these trains have to stop for a longer time at Pune station since both the existing tracks remain congested due to heavy traffic. The waiting period of such trains at Pune station would be reduced once the new track comes up.