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."
* 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
