As the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj terminus is entering its 125th year on April 20, the Maharashtra Rail and Road Passengers' Association has demanded a special stamp to commemorate the day and acknowledge the contribution of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, who had spent his own money to lay the railway track from Miraj to Kolhapur.
Mohan Shete, former station manager of Kolhapur and a member of the association, said: "The Indian Railways had released special stamps on Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus in Mumbai, Chennai station and Kolkata station, among others. These were limited edition stamps and people have purchased them as a memento. The release of a stamp is a gesture."
Shete has been pursuing the demand with various organizations, industrial bodies and public representatives. The local residents are pushing the demand so that it would be included in the railway budget to be presented on February 26.
Shivnath Biyani, chairman of the association said, "We have requested Kolhapur MP Dhananjay Mahadik to follow it up at the central level. The district has benefited from Shahu Maharaj's contributions as he not only spent his money for construction of the railway line, but also invited trading communities from Gujarat to settle in Kolhapur and do business. He provided them several incentives, constructed Shahupuri and Laxmipuri areas as business centres and also developed Jaisinghpur, a village in Hatkanangale as another traders' destination along the Kolhapur-Miraj railway line."
"These facilities boosted trade in sugar, jaggery and leather products, and the efficient communication with major cities like Mumbai and Pune contributed in socio-cultural uplift of the district. I think, it will be a nice gesture from the Indian Railways to release a stamp on his name," Biyani added.
Mahadik said, "I have written a letter to the railway minister regarding our demand. It would not cost very much to the railways but the people of Kolhapur would feel honoured. It is high time for Kolhapur to have this recognition."
The MP added, "Shahu Maharaj has been an idol of development and embodiment of inspiration for many people. I have also demanded redevelopment of the railway station and expansion of it."
The beginning
* April 16, 1853: Country's first train ran between Bori Bundar (Mumbai) and Thane
* May 3, 1888: Construction of the 48km railway line from Kolhapur to Miraj started
* Shahu Maharaj announced that the required cost of Rs 22.75 lakh will be borne by his princely state; the cost finally escalated to Rs 23.05 lakh
* Construction completed in three years
* April 20, 1891: First metre gauge train ran from Miraj to Kolhapur
Mohan Shete, former station manager of Kolhapur and a member of the association, said: "The Indian Railways had released special stamps on Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus in Mumbai, Chennai station and Kolkata station, among others. These were limited edition stamps and people have purchased them as a memento. The release of a stamp is a gesture."
Shete has been pursuing the demand with various organizations, industrial bodies and public representatives. The local residents are pushing the demand so that it would be included in the railway budget to be presented on February 26.
Shivnath Biyani, chairman of the association said, "We have requested Kolhapur MP Dhananjay Mahadik to follow it up at the central level. The district has benefited from Shahu Maharaj's contributions as he not only spent his money for construction of the railway line, but also invited trading communities from Gujarat to settle in Kolhapur and do business. He provided them several incentives, constructed Shahupuri and Laxmipuri areas as business centres and also developed Jaisinghpur, a village in Hatkanangale as another traders' destination along the Kolhapur-Miraj railway line."
"These facilities boosted trade in sugar, jaggery and leather products, and the efficient communication with major cities like Mumbai and Pune contributed in socio-cultural uplift of the district. I think, it will be a nice gesture from the Indian Railways to release a stamp on his name," Biyani added.
Mahadik said, "I have written a letter to the railway minister regarding our demand. It would not cost very much to the railways but the people of Kolhapur would feel honoured. It is high time for Kolhapur to have this recognition."
The MP added, "Shahu Maharaj has been an idol of development and embodiment of inspiration for many people. I have also demanded redevelopment of the railway station and expansion of it."
The beginning
* April 16, 1853: Country's first train ran between Bori Bundar (Mumbai) and Thane
* May 3, 1888: Construction of the 48km railway line from Kolhapur to Miraj started
* Shahu Maharaj announced that the required cost of Rs 22.75 lakh will be borne by his princely state; the cost finally escalated to Rs 23.05 lakh
* Construction completed in three years
* April 20, 1891: First metre gauge train ran from Miraj to Kolhapur
Source:-The Times of India
No comments:
Post a Comment