**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses questions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding train stoppages and railway infrastructure development in Maharashtra. It outlines the Indian Railway's policy on providing train stoppages, criteria considered, and responses to proposals for new stoppages and railway stations, including those in Osmanabad, Washim, Yavatmal, Shirdi, and Beed. It also details ongoing and planned projects to improve rail connectivity and infrastructure in Maharashtra.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Policy on Train Stoppages:**
* Provision of train stoppages depends on traffic justification, operational feasibility, station importance, and availability of alternative services.
* Proposals are received from various stakeholders but are not centrally maintained as a compendium. They are examined and actioned as feasible.
* **Current Train Services in Maharashtra:**
* Dharashiv (Osmanabad) is served by 22 train services.
* Sai Nagar Shirdi is served by 28 train services.
* Washim is served by 44 train services.
* Beed station is being developed as part of the Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli new line project.
* **Infrastructure Development Projects:**
* Ahmednagar-Beed (168 km) section of the Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli project has been commissioned.
* Rahuri-Shanishingnapur (22 km) new line and Puntamba-Shirdi (17 km) doubling projects have been sanctioned.
* Surveys are underway for Nashik-Sainagar Shirdi new double line, Nasik Road-Shirdi via Sinnar new line, Rahuri-Shani Shingnapur new line, and Rahuri-Shani Shingnapur doubling.
* As of April 1, 2025, 38 projects (11 new lines, 2 gauge conversions, and 25 doubling) totaling 5,098 km and costing ₹89,780 crore, are sanctioned in Maharashtra, with 2,360 km commissioned and ₹39,407 crore spent.
* **Financial Investment:**
* Budget allocation for infrastructure and safety works in Maharashtra: ₹1,171 crore/year (2009-14) and ₹23,778 crore (2025-26).
* **Completed Projects (Examples):**
* Jabalpur-Gondia Gauge Conversion (₹2005 crore)
* Chhindwara-Nagpur Gauge Conversion (₹1512 crore)
* Udhna-Jalgaon Doubling (₹2448 crore)
* Daund-Gulbarga Doubling (₹3182 crore)
* **Ongoing Projects (Examples):**
* Ahmednagar-Beed-Parle Vaijnath New Line (₹4957 crore)
* Baramati-Lonand New Line (₹1844 crore)
* Manmad-Indore New Line (₹16321 crore)
* Pune-Miraj-Londa Doubling (₹6463 crore)
* Daund-Manmad Doubling (₹3037 crore)
**Impact Analysis:**
**Members of Parliament, Elected Representatives, Organizations, and Rail Users:**
* *Impact:* Their proposals, requests, and suggestions for train stoppages are considered based on justification and feasibility.
* *Action Required:* Continue to submit proposals with supporting data to relevant railway authorities.
**Residents of Maharashtra (Specifically Osmanabad, Washim, Yavatmal, Shirdi, and Beed):**
* *Impact:* Potential for improved rail connectivity and services due to ongoing and planned infrastructure projects and consideration of new train stoppages.
* *Action Required:* Monitor project progress and provide feedback to railway authorities regarding service needs.
**Indian Railways:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for evaluating proposals, managing infrastructure projects, and allocating resources based on policy and feasibility.
* *Action Required:* Continue to assess and implement projects to enhance rail connectivity and efficiency in Maharashtra.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for railway transport.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Maharashtra: A state in India where the train stoppages and railway projects are being discussed.
Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency: A parliamentary constituency in Maharashtra, specifically mentioned for railway development and connectivity.
Osmanabad: A city in Maharashtra, where train stoppage proposals have been received.
Washim: A district in Maharashtra, where train stoppage proposals have been received.
Yavatmal: A district in Maharashtra, where train stoppage proposals have been received.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1699
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
RESUMPTION OF STOPPAGE OF TRAINS AT VARIOUS STATIONS OF
MAHARASHTRA
†1699. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:
SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR:
SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the policy of the Government with regard to providing stoppage of
trains at various railway stations of the country including Maharashtra;
(b) the criteria set by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has received any proposals/requests for
providing stoppage of trains from various States including Maharashtra;
(d) if so, the details thereof particularly at Osmanabad station and
railways stations in Washim-Yavatmal and Shirdi Lok Sabha
Constituencies in Maharashtra along with the action taken by the
Government in this regard;
(e) whether the Government has also received a request for establishing
railway station in various areas of Maharashtra particularly in Barshi
Naka area of Beed town in Beed district;
(f) if so, the details of the action taken on these proposals so far;
(g) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to accept these
demands;
(h) whether the Government proposes to establish a new railway station
in Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency, if so, the time by which it is likely to
be established; and
(i) the steps taken by the Government to resume train stoppage at
stations closed during the COVID period?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (i) On Indian Railways, provision of stoppages of train services and
their rationalisation is dependent on factors which includes trafficjustification, operational feasibility, importance of the station,
availability of alternative services, etc.
Further, Proposals/ requests/ suggestions/ representations, both formal
and informal inter alia for provision of stoppage of trains are received
from Members of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail
users etc. at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways,
Divisional Office etc. As receipt of such proposals/ requests/ suggestions
is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such
requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as
found feasible and justified is taken from time to time.
Presently, Dharashiv (Osmanabad), Sai Nagar Shirdi, Washim stations
are being respectively served by 22, 28 and 44 train services. Besides,
provision of stoppages is an ongoing process.
Beed station is being developed as a part of Ahmednagar – Beed - Parli
(261.Km.) new line project. The cost of the project is Rs. 2539 crore. An
expenditure of Rs. 2784 crore has been incurred up to March, 2025.
Ahmednagar - Beed (168 Km.) section has been commissioned.
Further, to improve connectivity in Shirdi constituency, Rahuri -
Shanishingnapur (22 Km.) new line and Puntamba - Shirdi (17 Km.)
doubling projects have been sanctioned recently.
Moreover to improve the further connectivity in Shirdi constituency,
following important surveys have been taken up:
S.No. Name of the projects Length (in Km.)
1 Nashik-Sainagar Shirdi New Double Line 95
2 Nasik Road-Shirdi via Sinnar new line 83
3 Rahuri-Shani Shingnapur new line 25
4 Rahuri-Shani Shingnapur Doubling 21
As on 01.04.2025, 38 projects (11 New Lines, 02 Gauge Conversions and
25 Doubling), of total length of 5,098 Km, costing ₹89,780 crore falling
fully/partly in Maharashtra are sanctioned, out of which 2360 km length
has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹39,407 crore has been
incurred upto March, 2025. The status of work is summarized as under:-Plan Head No. of Total Length Expenditure
projects Length Commissioned upto March 2025
(in Km) (in Km) (₹ in Cr)
New Lines 11 1355 234 10504
Gauge 2 609 334 4286
Conversion
Doubling / 25 3134 1792 24617
Multitracki
ng
Total 38 5098 2360 39407
Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects and safety works, falling
fully/ partly in the state of Maharashtra is as under:
Period Outlay
2009-14 ₹1,171 crore/year
2025-26 ₹23,778 Cr. (more than 20 times)
The details of commissioning / laying of new track falling fully/partly in
the State of Maharashtra during 2009-14 and 2014-25 is as under :-
Period New Track Average Commissioning of new
Commissioned tracks
2009-14 292 Km 58.4 Km/year
2014-25 2292 Km 208.36 km per year (Nearly 4 times)
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in
Maharashtra are as under:
S.No. Project Cost
(₹ in crore)
1 Jabalpur-Gondia Gauge Conversion (300 Km) 2005
2 Chhindwara-Nagpur Gauge Conversion (150 Km) 1512
3 Panvel-Pen Doubling (35 Km) 263
4 Panvel-Roha Doubling (75 Km) 315 Pen-Roha Doubling (40 Km) 330
6 Udhna-Jalgaon Doubling (307 Km) 2448
7 Mudkhed-Parbhani Doubling (81 Km) 673
8 Bhusawal – Jalgaon 3rd Line (24 Km) 325
9 Jalgaon-Bhusawal 4th line (24 Km) 261
10 Daund-Gulbarga Doubling (225 Km) 3182
Some of the projects falling fully/partly in Maharashtra which have been
taken up are as under:-
S.No. Project Cost
(₹ in crore)
1 Ahmednagar-Beed-Parle Vaijnath New Line (261 4957
Km)
2 Baramati-Lonand New Line (64 Km) 1844
3 Wardha-Nanded New Line (284 Km) 3445
4 Dighi Port-Roha New Line (34 Km) 725
5 Solapur-tuljapur-Osmanabad New Line (84 Km) 2933
6 Dhule (Borvihir) - Nardana New Line (51 Km) 1171
7 Kalyan-Murbad New Line (28 Km) 836
8 Manmad-Indore New Line (309 Km) 16321
9 Wadsa-Gadchiroli New Line (52 Km) 1886
10 Jalna and Jalgaon New Line (174 Km) 5804
11 Pachora-Jamner with extension upto Malkapur 2094
Gauge Conversion (84 Km)
12 Ratlam-Mhow-Khandwa-Akola and MM of 6384
Fatehabad-Chandrawati Ganj-Ujjain Gauge
Conversion (525 Km)
13 Kalyan-Kasara 3rd line (68 Km) 1436
14 Wardha (Sewagram)-Nagpur 3rd line (76 Km) 698
15 Wardha-Ballarshah 3rd line (132 Km) 1385
16 Itarsi-Nagpur 3rd line (280 Km) 245017 Pune-Miraj-Londa Doubling (466 Km) 6463
18 Daund-Manmad Doubling (236 Km) 3037
19 Manmad-Jalgaon 3rd line (160 Km) 1677
20 Wardha-Nagpur 4th line (79 Km) 1137
21 Kazipet -Ballarshah 3rd Line (202 Km) 3183
22 Mudkhed - Medchal & Mahbubnagar - Dhone 4686
Doubling (417 Km)
23 Rajnandgaon-Nagpur 3rd line (228 Km) 3545
24 Hotgi-Kudgi-Gadag Doubling (284 Km) 2459
25 Aurangabad – Ankai Doubling (98 Km) 961
26 Parbhani- Parli Vaijanath Doubling (65 Km) 770
27 Jalgaon-Manmad 4th Line (160 Km) 2574
28 Bhusawal-Khandwa 3rd & 4th Line (131 Km) 3285
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