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Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Hadapsar railway station emerging as Pune's new satellite terminal
In a bid to decongest Pune railway station, the Pune railway division is actively developing Hadapsar railway station as a fully operational satellite terminal for long-distance trains. With train operations increasing steadily, Hadapsar is being positioned as a key alternative hub to ease the load on Pune Junction which currently sees among the highest train operation volumes in the region. Some train services have already started shifting to Hadapsar, with more expected to shift in the coming months as infrastructure upgrades near completion. The transformation of Hadapsar railway station is part of the Indian Railways' 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' implemented by the Gati-Shakti unit of the Pune division. The redevelopment project costs an estimated ₹135 crore and includes the extension of Up and Down platforms to 600 metres to accommodate 24-coach trains, conversion of the existing Up goods line into a common Up and Down passenger coach line, and the addition of a new goods line on the Up side. Other significant developments include the construction of a new station building, improvements to the circulating area, creation of parking facilities, and installation of water supply tank systems. Many works such as the extension of platforms 1, 2 and 3 to full 24-coach capacity and implementation of passenger amenities worth ₹11.69 crore have already been completed. The passenger amenities include modern waiting halls, enhanced seating, digital display systems and clean drinking water facilities. 'Hadapsar station is being developed to provide an airport-like experience, with features such as lifts, escalators, a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge, roof plaza, waiting rooms, and retiring rooms,' said a senior railway official on condition of anonymity. To facilitate the widening of access roads to the station, old railway quarters and the Railway Police Force (RPF) chowky have been removed. However, despite the ongoing development and enhanced facilities, passengers continue to face challenges related to connectivity and public transport. Unlike the centrally located Pune Junction, Hadapsar station lacks robust last-mile connectivity. Sneha Kulkarni, a daily commuter from Magarpatta, said, 'While it is definitely a good move to start long-distance trains from Hadapsar, the biggest problem we face is poor connectivity. There are hardly any Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses or shared transport options directly to the station, and auto-rickshaw drivers often refuse short rides or charge extra. The approach road also gets congested during peak hours. Unless public transport and access improve, it will remain inconvenient for many passengers, especially senior citizens and those with luggage.' Authorities acknowledge these challenges and are working in coordination with local bodies to improve public transport links to Hadapsar. Once fully operational, the station is expected to significantly reduce the burden on Pune Junction while offering more convenient options for residents of eastern Pune, including areas like Magarpatta, Amanora and Hadapsar itself. The station's transformation is expected to be complete by early 2026, representing a major leap forward in Pune's rail infrastructure and a critical component of the city's broader urban transport strategy.
Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Indian Express
Solving Crime: How a sticker on a blue drum helped Bengaluru railway police crack the murder of a Bihar woman
As many as three bodies were found stuffed in blue drums at railway stations across Bengaluru between December 2022 and March 2023. While two of the murders continue to remain unsolved, in one of the cases, the railway police managed to nab the killers of one of the women with little evidence. On December 6, 2022, a woman's body was found in a yellow sack inside a blue drum dumped with other luggage in one of the unreserved coaches of the Baiyappanahalli MEMU Special train at Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal. Another decomposing body of a woman aged around 20 was found in an abandoned blue drum at the end of platform 1 at the Yeshwanthpur Railway Station on January 4, 2023. Both victims are yet to be identified. In the murder that took place in March 2023, the police were able to identify the victim only after the arrest of the killers. On March 13, 2023, the Railway Police Force (RPF) discovered an abandoned blue drum at Sir M Visvesvaraya terminal in Bengaluru. In turn, RPF informed the State Railway Police, who found the body of a woman — aged around 25 to 30 years — in a plastic cover inside the drum. As the body was in a decomposed state, the police were unable to establish the victim's identity. 'This really caused jitters for us. This was the third incident in a span of four months. And in previous cases, there were no leads, and a lot of questions were raised about safety at railway stations. What the previous cases had exposed was the dysfunctional CCTV cameras,' a senior police officer said. However, this time, the police analysed CCTV footage, but it did not yield any results. 'The police were able to get CCTV footage, but what came as crucial evidence was the address written on the plastic drum. Usually, labourers travelling from North India in trains use plastic drums to keep their luggage, and some of them write their names and addresses on them. And on this drum, Jamal's address was written, which helped us to crack the case at the earliest,' said Soumyalatha S K, Superintendent of Police (Railways). A senior police officer said the sticker with Jamal's name had an address in the Kalasipalya area of Bengaluru. 'A team was immediately dispatched to confirm whether the person with the same name resided there. The police posed as local people and checked the address. The neighbours showed the house. However, Jamal was not at his residence, but Kamal, 21, Tanveer, 28, and Shakib, 25, were picked up for questioning,' the officer added. According to the police, all of them were from Bihar. As the probe began, the police identified the murdered woman as 27-year-old Tamanna, a resident of Bihar, and found that she was married to Intiqab. The police said Intiqab, who worked as an AC mechanic in Anekal, too, belonged to Bihar. Soumyalatha, SP (Railways), said Tamanna was married to a man called Afroz, but separated later. She said Tamanna developed a relationship with Intiqab, a relative of Afroz, eloped from her place, came to Bengaluru in June 2022, and married him. According to Soumyalatha, Intiqab's family was enraged over the damage they believed Tamanna had caused to their reputation. On March 12, 2023, Intiqab's brother, Nawab, invited the couple to his residence in Kalasipalya to discuss the tensions that had arisen in Bihar following their marriage. When he arrived at Nawab's house, a heated argument broke out. Nawab then convinced Intiqab to leave, assuring him that he would send Tamanna back to Bihar to resolve the issue there. Placing his trust in his brother, Intiqab returned home. However, Nawab, along with his associates, allegedly strangled Tamanna, and to dispose of the evidence, they stuffed her body into a plastic drum. They carried the body in an auto-rickshaw, kept the plastic drum near the sliding door at Sir M Visvesvaraya terminal, and left. The next day, the police found the drum. The police later arrested Nawab, Jamal, Masar, Asab, and Sabul, and filed a chargesheet against all the arrested. The accused are out on bail, and the case is in the trial stage.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Time of India
RPF detains vendors selling stale food on trains
Nagpur: In a crackdown on the sale of stale food in trains, the Railway Police Force (RPF) of Central Railways launched a drive on Thursday. The operation took place onboard three trains: 12151 (Samarsata Superfast Express from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai, to Shalimar Station, Howrah), 12809 (CSMT Mumbai to Howrah Junction), and 12834 (Ahmedabad Superfast Express from Ahmedabad to Howrah). The inspection focused on unauthorised vendors and substandard food being served, which is particularly hazardous during high temperatures. A total of 81 cases were registered during the operation, resulting in earnings of Rs62,950 in fines. The drive was carried out by a team comprising 12 commercial staff and 5 personnel from the RPF. Notably, two unauthorised vendors were apprehended and handed over to RPF units at Gondia and Durg (DGG).
