BJP MP Medha Kulkarni Demands Faster Trains
BJP MP Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni has urged the government to introduce high-speed train services connecting major cities. She raised this issue in the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour on Monday.
Need for Faster Trains
Kulkarni pointed out that the city is an important IT, education, and industrial hub but lacks fast trains like Rajdhani, Tejas, and Vande Bharat Express. Passengers have to depend on slow trains, leading to delays and inconvenience.
Currently, the fastest trains to Delhi, the Jhelum Express and Goa Express, take about 26-28 hours. Since there is no Rajdhani Express, people first travel to Mumbai, wasting time and money.
Proposed Solutions
Kulkarni suggested:
✅ Rerouting Delhi-Bengaluru and Delhi-Hyderabad Rajdhani Express via the city, at least three times a week.
✅ Introducing Tejas and Vande Bharat trains for faster travel and better trade and tourism.
✅ Improving train connectivity to Kolkata, as the Azad Hind Express currently takes 28 hours.
Poor Connectivity with Nearby Cities
Kulkarni also spoke about poor inter-state train connectivity.
🚆 No direct trains to Nashik, a major religious and agricultural center. Travelers must go to Mumbai first or take a six-hour road journey.
🚆 She urged the government to include the city in the Bharat Gaurav train scheme to connect it with important religious destinations.
“Better train services will help students, traders, and regular passengers,” she said, stressing the need for faster and more efficient rail transport. 🚄
