Railway Development Around Kolhapur-Sangli-Miraj.
This area is a prosperous part of Maharashtra not because of industrial development but mainly because of agricultural development. This is popularly called as sugar belt of Maharshtra.
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To any area to develop transport facilities are very important, railways and roadways are arteries of a economically healthy area. Considering Kolhapur-Sangli Roadways are better developed( four laned NH 4 ). Coming to railways Pune - Miraj - Kolhapur is most important line this was converted to BG around 1970 since then its development is static the signaling system was also age old till recently. Many times demand was raised to double this line but it was shelved each time.
Next important line is Miraj - Hubli - Bangalore it was converted to BG in 1995. Since then some long route trains are started.
Some important trains plying through this area and notable points
1 Mahalaxmi express this train connect Kolhapur to CSTM
It is one of the fastest train on Miraj Pune route but still the average speed is 50 km/hr!! Recently it is sharing its rake with Kolhapur-Solapur express so the most prestigious train on this route has become most dirty train.
2 Sahyadri express
It is a express which runs with speed less than of passenger train!!
3 Koyana Express
A day counterpart of Sahyadri express!!
4 Maharashtra express
Slow but good train connecting many places.
5 Rani Channama express
Good train (when you compare udyan express on Mumbai route with this train you have no option to call this a good train)
6 Dheekshabhoomi express
It is biggest joke indian railways has cracked with people of Kolhapur (actually when announced this train was for benefit of Kolhapur and Pune but Our Ex CM made it a naded train- for proof just check the route and the compare the speed Kolhapur to Nanded with Nanded to Dhanbad)