Sangli, February 28, 2025 – “Rather than scrapping it, bring the Kalaburagi Express to Sangli and add an extra coach!” This is the resounding demand from Sangli’s passengers and organizations as the Kolhapur-Kalaburagi railway faces yet another crisis. Blaming the railway officials’ stubbornness and refusal to extend the train to Sangli, commuters argue that the service is teetering on the edge. While some officials seem intent on cancelling it, travellers propose a smarter solution: extend the train to Sangli and boost its capacity with an additional coach. Amid this tug-of-war, whispers of a deliberate attempt to spark a Sangli-Kolhapur rivalry are growing louder. So, what’s the story behind this train, and why does it matter so much to Sangli? Let’s dive in.

A Fascinating History Marred by Sangli Neglect

The tale of this train is nothing short of intriguing. Back in 2011, the first Kolhapur-Solapur train chugged along via Miraj. Had Sangli been included in this route from the start, it could have been a game-changer for residents, offering seamless travel to Pandharpur, Solapur, and Kolhapur. Priced at just ₹120 to Solapur, this train could have won over Sangli’s commuters in droves. Umesh Shah, a passenger organization leader, asserts, “Sangli alone could have sold 500 tickets daily. That’s how much this route means to the city and district.” Yet, the reality of travelling to Miraj to board—costing more than the ticket itself—kept Sangli out of the loop, and the train never gained traction here.

Official Stubbornness and the Pain of Closure

In truth, railway officials should have prioritized increasing passenger traffic from both Sangli and Kolhapur. Had they done so, the train might have thrived. Instead, the Kolhapur-Solapur service was abruptly shut down—a humiliating misstep for the railways. While Kolhapur passengers enjoyed the ride, Sangli was left in the lurch, an injustice felt by all. During former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s tenure, demands for a Sangli-Solapur train via Miraj grew loud. But the Central Railway’s obstinate officials stuck to their guns, launching a Miraj-Solapur train instead. With no stop at Sangli, locals avoided the hassle of reaching Miraj, and the train floundered. Citing losses, the Railway Board eventually pulled the plug for good.

Sangli’s Bold Proposal: Don’t Cancel, Expand!

Now, with the Kolhapur-Kalaburagi Express facing a similar fate, Sangli passengers have a clear stance: don’t cancel it—extend it to Sangli and add a coach. The route to Solapur and Kalaburagi is convenient for Sangliites, and they’re confident the train would see strong support. “Why deprive Sangli commuters and kill the train just because of a handful of officials’ whims?” they ask, urging the railways to test this expansion. Meanwhile, Kolhapur passengers are raising concerns: “If it goes to Sangli, will it skip Kolhapur and become a Sangli-Miraj-Kalaburagi route?” No such plan exists, but the fear persists. The reality? If Sangli isn’t included, the Kolhapur-Kalaburagi train risks the same loss-driven fate as its predecessors.

Kolhapur-Solapur-Kalaburagi: A String of Failed Experiments

Ignoring Sangli, the railways have botched this route thrice already. Some Kolhapur organizations pushed to extend the old Kolhapur-Solapur train to Kalaburagi, a proposal Central Railway approved. Yet, two years on, the train struggles to attract passengers. Reports reveal at least 500 tickets go unsold daily—a clear sign of trouble. If this continues, the Kalaburagi Express could join the graveyard of Miraj-Solapur and Kolhapur-Solapur trains.

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Sangli-Kolhapur Unity Over Rivalry

Passengers are now calling for unity, not division, between Sangli and Kolhapur. They urge organizations to join forces and resolve this mess. The railways must experiment with extending the train to Sangli—only then can this route survive and turn profitable. Will this demand be met, or will the Kalaburagi Express dream fade into oblivion? Time will tell.