PUNE: The Hadapsar Railway Station is not ready yet, even the road connecting it is narrow and damaged, but despite the constraints a tri-weekly special train to Hyderabad will commence services from here on July 9.
The 700-metre road connecting the station from Mundhwa bypass has a width of 10 feet in most parts — too narrow for two vehicles to pass side by side.
Though traffic is likely to increase once the train services start, railway officials are not worried. They said that a team of Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been deployed to take care of traffic management.
“The road belongs to the railways. But with the train set to start suddenly, our focus has now shifted to ensuring that passenger amenities are in place. Since Hadapsar station is to be developed into a satellite terminal by March 2024, road development is part of our long-term plan,” Manoj Jhawar, public relations officer, Pune rail division, told TOI.
The special train will reach Hadapsar from Hyderabad on July 8. The train will leave Hadapsar every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 3:30pm from July 9. The train will leave Hyderabad at 20:35hours on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday.
“The train is operated by the South Central Railway, and the decision to run it has come from the railway board. We are bound to execute it though it has come as a surprise for us. The Hadapsar station has three platforms and work related to basic infrastructure is going at a rapid pace. We will be able to provide basic amenities to passengers once the services start,” another rail official said.
Local residents, however, said that the narrow road would pose a major problem. “No public transport is available from the railway station at present. Once the train starts, autorickshaws and private vehicles will come for picking and dropping passengers. However, the road is so narrow in most parts that two vehicles cannot pass side by side. Moreover, in many parts, the road is damaged, and waterlogging is a major problem. We can only imagine the nightmare passengers will suffer. The railways should have focused first on developing the road,” a local shopkeeper said.
Another railway official said that passengers can walk up to the Mundhwa bypass to get public transport.
Railway sources said that there was a proposal to start a train from/to Hadapsar last year, too, but the Pune railway division had made it clear that the station was not in a position to start passenger trains. “Nothing at the station was ready. Now, at least we have three platforms and one of them can accommodate a 24-coach train,” the official said.
Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMLML) officials said that the narrow road was a matter of concern. “We have visited the spot. Some midi-buses can be started, but the narrow and uneven road is a matter of concern. Different agencies, including the traffic police, are working on a solution,” Dattatray Zende, traffic manager, PMPML, said.
Harsha Shah, chairperson, Railway Pravasi Group, said, “Every time you ask the railway officials, they just claim that work is going on and is expected to be completed soon. This has been going on for the past 10 years now. They must discuss and bring the train to Pune station to reduce the hardship faced by passengers.”
Another railway official found solace in the fact that booking for the train was very less. “The bookings are just around 9%. So, there are not going to be many passengers at present,” he said.
