Murtizapur station gets Rs 13 crore makeover, but express train stoppages still awaited

Akola: Murtizapur station, an important junction in the Bhusawal division of Central Railway, looks new after more than Rs 13 crore was spent on it under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme. But the question of stoppages for key express trains remains unresolved. People are asking when, after crores spent on development, passengers' difficulties will finally end.

The station has a modern building, an improved premises and several facilities for passengers. Yet its biggest need, that trains halt there, has not been met.

People from many villages around, including Daryapur, Achalpur, Karanja, Digras and Mangrulpir, travel from Murtizapur station to Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Surat and Ahmedabad. Traders, students, salaried people and patients also depend on this station. But given the growing number of passengers, the required trains (12135/12136) have no stoppage there. As a result, many people have to go to Akola or Badnera station, which means higher travel costs and lost time.

The demand is not new. About a year ago, the ruling BJP had warned of a rail roko agitation to get key express trains to stop at Murtizapur.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis then wrote to the Union Railway Minister demanding stoppages at Murtizapur for three important express trains: the Amravati-Pune (11025/11026), the Amravati-Tirupati Express (12765/12766) and the Nagpur-Pune Superfast Express. It was said that stoppages for these trains had been approved from May 1, 2025. But passengers claim the trains still do not actually halt at Murtizapur station. The gap between approval and implementation is plain to see.

Passengers going to Mumbai face an even bigger problem. They complain that after the Sevagram Express leaves at 12.45 am, they have to wait about 18 hours for the next train to Mumbai.

Why the stoppages have not actually begun even after the Chief Minister's letter, what has been pleaded with the railway administration, and what efforts are under way to give relief to Murtizapur's passengers: on all these, his role will be important.