135 years of Kolhapur-Miraj rail line marked; demand raised for new Karad-Kolhapur-Belagavi route

Kolhapur: A demand for a separate Karad-Kolhapur-Belagavi railway line was raised before Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav during a programme held at Kolhapur railway station on Tuesday to mark 135 years of the Kolhapur-Miraj railway line.The event was organised by the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Pravasi Sangh and the Kolhapur Railway Passengers Association and was presided over by former MLA Malojiraje Chhatrapati. Speakers also highlighted the long-pending issue of track doubling on the Miraj-Kolhapur route, alleging that the project remains a distant dream even after 135 years.Addressing the gathering, Malojiraje Chhatrapati said the decision taken by Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj to extend the railway line to Kolhapur was visionary and people-centric. "Despite Kolhapur being geographically off the main north-south railway corridor, the rail line was brought here. The spade used by Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj during the groundbreaking ceremony is still preserved in the Palace Museum," he said.He added that while Kolhapur has seen development in sectors such as IT, aviation and air connectivity, railways remain the common man's primary mode of transport. "A separate Karad-Kolhapur-Belagavi line will significantly reduce the distance between Pune and Bengaluru, which currently requires a longer route via Miraj. Efforts are also underway for the Kolhapur-Vaibhavwadi rail link, and improvement work at Kolhapur railway station has begun," he said.Passenger association members stressed that infrastructure upgrades, including track doubling, are essential if Kolhapur is to be considered fully developed from a transport perspective.