MSRTC seeks space outside Kasara railway station

NASHIK: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is planning to run additional buses between Nashik and Kasara for the convenience of the passengers before and after the parvani days during the Kumbh Mela; and therefore, the corporation is contemplating asking the railways to reserve the space outside the Kasara railway station for building a bus stand for commuters’ safety, in exchange for the MSRTC-owned land at the Nashik Road bus stand.
“Why can’t the railways give us its open space outside Kasara railway station in exchange of the commercially priced piece of land at the Nashik Road bus stand? We could build a bus stand at the space for passengers’ convenience, while the railways will also benefit form acquiring the space at Nashik Road for its canteen,” transport minister Diwakar Raote said.
The railways has for long been demanding the space occupied by a dilapidated structure of a canteen at the Nashik Road station, which now been abandoned for having a wider entrance to the station. “Since the land belongs to the MSRTC, it cannot be given easily. But if the railways is willing, the space could be bartered against the piece of land outside the Kasara railway station which is of no use to it. We will construct a stand to accommodate our buses there,” Raote said, asking the MSRTC officials to prepare a proposal in this regard, which he will take up with the respective authorities next week.
“It’s now or never; the MSTC buses that are now being parked on the street outside the Kasara railway station will get a designated space to park and the passengers will also not be inconvenienced,” Raote said. The minister also hinted at starting more buses to Kasara from Nashik during the pre and post parvani days for holy bath.
“The proposal of starting more buses cam up in the meeting held in Mumbai and we are here to discuss the modalities of the matter. The aim is to cut down on the number of buses running all the way to Mumbai during the Mela as the operations would be one-sided and costly. Instead, we would deploy more buses between Kasara and Nashik and Kasara and Trimbakeshwar to help the evacuation of passengers from here during the post shahi parvani period,” the minister added. There will be fewer special trains for pilgrims coming from Mumbai as the railways plans to run short and long distance trains towards Itarsi, Nanded, Solapur and other areas. Much of the burden would then lie on the buses which will lead to one-side operations during the pre and the post shahi parvani snan days.
“The proposal of feeding buses to Kasara from where commuters can take local trains on their return journey from Nashik after the shahi snan is being discussed. We can then run more shuttle services to and from Kasara,” Raote said.