Chamber had a long meeting with Railway GM

 Pragativahini News, Belagavi

During the visit of Ajaykumar Singh, General Manager of South Western Railways to Belagavi Railway Station on Saturday, the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Mahesh Bagi, Sr.Vice President Rohan Juvali and Hon.Secretary Satish Gourgonda had the meeting with him and discussed about the infrastructure of Railway Station of Belagavi. And also handed over the Copy of Memorandum of Railways to him. In the meeting Ajay Kumar Singh assured to complete the platform No.2 and 3, New building and existing railway main building infrastructure within 2 years.

Highlights of Memorandum

1. Suggestion is to allow the passengers entry and exit from the Southern side of the station.
2. Suggestion to shift the present Good shed from Belgaum stations to nearby Sambra or Desur. This will enable to have more space for additional platform for passenger trains.
3. The survey for laying the rail line between Dharwad -Kolhapur via Kittur parallel to the National Highway 4 has been completed. Currently the railway between these two cities runs via Londa junction on the border of Goa which is a circuitous route. As a result the train takes almost three and half hours to cover a distance of 70 kms. Priority be given to laying of this rail line as it will reduce the travelling time to one hour.
4. Due priority should also be given to already surveyed Belgaum-Karad railway line via Sankeshwar- Nippani such that the entire Mumbai-Bengaluru Industrial corridor is covered by this project.
5. It is felt that the Railway Authorities should inform traders and industries in the town and appeal them to make maximum use of the Railway goods transport facilities and regularly update new Trains, change in timings, passenger amenities etc to the Chamber.

 STATION FACILITIES :

Home add -Advt

1. A suggestion to allow the passengers entry and exit from the Southern side of the station, with the facility of ticket issuing counter.
2. Provisions for toilet blocks in platform 2 and 3.
3. Provision for electric car for senior citizens and differently abaled people on platform.
4. Well equipped Medical stores should be provided on platform.
5. The proposed new Main station Building is not fully complete. Earnest request to compete the remaining construction work at the earliest.
6. Installation of Platform Ticket Vending Machine (coin operated) will greatly avoid the unnecessary rushes at the Ticket Counter.
7. More number of sitting arrangements is to be provided at all the platforms (especially platform No,1).
8. Existing CCTV surveillance facilities has to be upgraded.
9. Adequate Ladies Police personal must be deputed on platforms 24 hours.
10. Separate dedicated Train inquiry and customer care booth to be set up at the station.

Trains Required:

1. Introduction of intercity train to Belgaum-Pune preferably departure time should be at 6 AM from Belagavi and from Pune departure should be at 6 P.M.
2. Looking into huge potential of passengers travelling towards Mumbai and Bangaluru from Belagavi, we strongly suggest that additional train Belagavi-Bengaluru and Belagavi-Mumbai must be started from Belagavi Station preferably at 9 P.M.
3. Existing Mysuru-Dharwad train should be extended to Belagavi.
4. There is a demand for a train from Miraj to Chennai via Bengaluru.
5. Provision for a train to Goa from Belagavi preferably leaving from Belagavi in morning to facilitate trade and tourism industries.
6. Earnest request to increase the passengers Quota of Belagavi station for Bangaluru.

7. Extra coaches are to be attached to existing Belagavi- Hubballi and Bengaluru-Miraj passenger trains.

8. Audio visual displays in every bogies showing current station and on coming station.