Hubballi-Pune Vande Bharat train to run thrice a week

Hubballi: Responding to a TOI report, many elected representatives of Kolhapur, Sangli, and Satara districts have opposed the Railway Board's proposed decision of diverting the Hubballi-Pune Vande Bharat train to Kolhapur. Following this, the Railway Board has officially announced that it will operate VB trains only for 3 days between Hubballi-Pune and another 3 days between Kolhapur-Pune.Union minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi has tweeted in this regard. Welcoming the move, Mahendra Singhi, a member of the SWR Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee, said he will urge the railway minister to extend the service for six days a week in the coming days.In a letter written to Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Maharashtra labour minister Suresh (Bhau) Khade, who is also the guardian minister for Sangli district, has asserted that the diversion of the Hubballi-Pune VB train to Kolhapur is not feasible. "Myself, former Sangli MP Sanjay Kaka, sitting Rajya Sabha member Dhananjay Mahadik, and Hatkanangle MP Dhairyasheel Mane have been demanding a VB train between Kolhapur-Mumbai for one and a half years. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured this train during a Lok Sabha election rally in Kolhapur. Hence, this demand should be fulfilled now," he requested.Hatkanangle MP Dhairyasheel S Mane, who is also a member of the standing committee on Railway, has sent a letter to the railway minister demanding not to divert the Hubballi-Kolhapur VB train.The issue was ignited when BJP Rajya Sabha Member Dhananjay Mahadik revealed that the Hubballi-Pune VB train will run via Miraj-Kolhapur-Miraj on three days a week. Meanwhile, SWR has said that the flagging off of the Hubballi-Pune VB train by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is postponed to Sept 16.BoxAccording to the Railway Board's circular dated Sept 12, a copy of which is available with the TOI, VB Train no. 20669 will start from Hubballi on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 5 am and reach Pune at 2.15 pm. From Pune, it is scheduled to depart on Thursday, Saturday, and Monday at 2.15 pm. The same rake will be operated from Kolhapur (8.15 am) to Pune on Thursday, Saturday, and Monday. From Pune, it will depart at 2.15pm on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !