From packed platforms to better train services — Pune's railway future was on the table this week, puneripages.in
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
If you, like me, have ever stood cramped in a Pune-Lonavala local, wondering if this is how sardines feel in a can—or you’ve had to watch your long-distance train creep into Pune station like it’s stuck in weekend traffic on JM Road—then the recent DRUCC meeting is one you should care about.
No, seriously. I know “Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee meeting” sounds like a yawn-fest, but this one was different. This is the meeting where all our collective daily frustrations—missed trains, packed compartments, delays, and the constant “waiting list” drama—were laid bare in front of railway officials who actually have the power to fix them.
Let me break it down the way I understood it—straightforward, no jargon.
Table of Contents
So, What Is the DRUCC Anyway?
Think of it as a round-table conference between railway officials and people like you and me—well, more like representatives from passenger groups, trade bodies, and NGOs, but they speak for us. It’s the one place where ground-level issues (yes, even that leaky station roof) are officially discussed.
This time, DRM Indu Dubey was at the helm, and from what I read and heard, the issues raised were the kind we rant about on WhatsApp groups and in chai tapri conversations.
What Actually Got Discussed (In Human Terms)
1. Pune-Lonavala Local: The Crush is Real You know how it feels when you’re hanging onto the train door by one arm and your dignity by the other? The committee members took that chaos seriously. They’ve asked for more trains during peak hours. More locals = fewer people per train (hopefully!).
2. Pune Station: Always Busy, Always Late We’ve all cursed under our breath when trains get delayed because “platform nahi mila.” To solve this, they’re pushing to develop Hadapsar as a second terminal. If that happens, it could unclog Pune Junction a bit.
3. Waiting List Woes You click on IRCTC, hopeful… and boom, WL-73. Classic. The demand was clear: Add more coaches to popular trains starting from Pune. More seats = less heartbreak.
4. Accessibility: Climbing Everest at Stations Older people, pregnant women, or anyone with a physical disability shouldn’t have to hike three flights of stairs just to catch a train. More lifts and escalators are being requested at busy stations. About time!
5. Trespassing = Delays + Danger Ever heard the announcement “train late due to trespassing on tracks”? They’re planning to build or repair boundary walls along tracks to reduce this. Makes sense for both safety and punctuality.
Now the Big Question: Will It Actually Happen?
Good question. This was a meeting to raise issues. Implementation takes time. There will be budget hurdles, approvals, and the usual sarkari red tape. But this is how it starts—by putting our daily chaos on record.
What You Can Do (Yes, You!)
- Join or support your local passenger associations — they are our voice in meetings like these.
- Use official channels like the Rail Madad app or Twitter to log complaints. The more people complain about the same issue, the harder it is to ignore.
Final Thoughts From a Frustrated Yet Hopeful Commuter
This meeting might not solve everything overnight. But just knowing that these topics were discussed seriously, in front of decision-makers, gives me a tiny bit of hope. Hope that someday, catching a train in Pune might not feel like a battlefield mission.
Until then, hold tight, avoid the puddles, and keep asking for better. Because if we don’t speak up, nothing changes.
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