Marathis seek direct train to Kolhapur

Hyderabad: A delegation of Marathi community led by L K Shinde, chairman, Sri Chatrapati Shivaji Maratha Sanskritic Trust met B Vinod Kumar, MP (Karimnagar) to represent their demand of introducing a direct train to Kolhapur via Solapur in Maharashtra to cut short the existing travel time for devotees as well as the businessmen, between the two neighbouring States.

In their representation to the Lok Sabha MP, they held that Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana and a prominent place since Nizam-era having links with Kolhapur historically. The city is home for Marathi and Kannada speaking people from border districts of Mahararashtra and Karnataka. Even though there is train, it passes via Hubli (Karnataka), which is longer and time consuming.

The introduction of a direct train via Solapur and Pandharpur will help the Marathi speaking people to visit holy places at Tulzapur (near Solapur) Pandharpur, Miraz and Kolhapur’s Mahalaxmi Mandir. These holy places are visited by most of the Marathi, Warkari and Kannada people. Goldsmith (Galai Bandhu), dry fruits and cloth merchants from Kolhapur, Miraz, Sangli Satara, Karad and Ichalkaranji frequently travel to Hyderabad in connection with business and also social, religious functions. The passenger traffic will commute on both sides of the journey, they held.

“The introduction of the train to Kolhapur via Solapur will help the pilgrims and businessmen to visit Gulbarga dargah, temples of Tulzapur, Pandharpur and Mahalaxmi Mandir at Kolhapur. The devotees of Lord Vithal and Rukmini from Warkari community visit Pandharpur on every Ekadashi. Citizens of Telangana specially will be highly benefited with the introduction of direct train via Solapur,” said Shinde. Madan Jadhav, secretary, Nivas Nikam, vice president and Dilip Kumar Jagtap, convener sports were present.