Title - Government allocates 25.75 cr to develop city railway station

NASHIK: The state government's high power committee (HPC) has allocated Rs 25.75 crore to the Central Railways for the development of Nashik Road railway station and to provide more passenger amenities for the upcoming Kumbhmela. However, the Central Railways (CR), which had demanded Rs 42.61 crore for the purpose, remained non-committal on its share of funds.

"The HPC, which met in Nashik recently, has cleared Rs 25.75 crore for the development of Nashik Road railway station and other works related to Kumbh mela. However, we are unable to promise anything as far as our share of funds is concerned," a senior railway official said.

The HPC re-appropriated the demand size of CR to Rs 25.75 crore, but asked for its share too. "Our share is decided by the central government and we had already requested guidance from the seniors on the issue. However, that hasn't happened yet. Besides, we haven't received any communique on the issue," the official said.

Similarly, the Maharashtra state road transport corporation (MSRTC) too received a jolt when the HPC cleared only Rs 12.8 crore against its total demand of a whopping Rs 130 crore.

The MSRTC has been allocated funds to construct new bus depot at Nashik road (near Muktidham), bus stations at Peth Road, Panjrapol (Panchavati), renovation of bus stations at Nashik Road (railway station), Trimbakeshwar and central bus station (old). The sanctioned money also includes Rs 50 lakh for installing CCTV cameras at various ST stations and Rs three crore for the construction of parking facilities for ten buses.

"The MSRTC has enough manpower to provide services to the citizens anywhere and anytime. During the last Kumbh mela, the MSRTC ferried nearly 30 lakh people. Considering the development and rise in the number of pilgrims coming to Nashik, the MSRTC is expected to ferry nearly 70 lakh people this time for which it would require a strong fleet of buses," an MSRTC official said.

"Hence, we had demanded to buy nearly 500 buses, which would later be used to meet the transport demands of the city and adjoining areas. However, considering the amount that has been cleared, it is difficult to think on what can be included," the official added.

PWD demands 346 cr, gets 466 cr

Buoyed by the funds sanctioned by the state government's HPC, the public works department (PWD) has decided to increase and strengthen road network to Trimbakeshwar as well as all the roads leading to the city from all sides. The PWD, which had originally had demanded Rs 346 crore, was allotted Rs 466 crore by the HPC.

The PWD has plans to develop the Tupa Devi, Talwade, Devargaon, Grinare, Mhasrul, Adgaon road to connect Trimbakeshwar with Ozhar at a cost of Rs 56 crore to ensure that the traffic from outside the city does not interfere the vehicular movement inside the city during the Kumbh mela.

The development of Sayyed Pimpri (towards Ozhar on Mumbai-Agra highway), Lakhalgaon, Jakhori and Shinde on Nashik-Pune highway has also been taken up by the department for which it has already approved Rs 32 crore and the HPC has agreed to give an additional Rs 40 crore in principle to the PWD.