Mumbai: In a significant move, the Maharashtra Government has decided to rename Sawantwadi Railway station on the Konkan Railway route after the late socialist leader and former Union Minister Madhu Dandavate, who is also regarded as the ‘architect’ of the Konkan Railway.
The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to rename the station as the ‘Lokmanya Madhu Dandavate Railway Terminus’ as a tribute to his contribution to the development of the Konkan region.
The late Madhu Dandavate, who served as the Railway Minister and Union Finance Minister, is widely regarded as the architect of the Konkan Railway. He made a monumental contribution towards turning the Konkan Railway project into reality. He consistently and dedicatedly followed up on railway issues concerning the Konkan region.
The people of Konkan firmly believe that his foresight led to the launch of the Konkan Railway. Consequently, there has been a persistent demand for the past few years to name the crucial Sawantwadi Railway Station along the Konkan Railway route after him. The decision fulfils a long-pending demand of people from the Konkan region, said the government release.
While the state cabinet has given its green light to the renaming proposal, the process requires final authorization from the Central Government. “Approval was also granted to submit this renaming proposal to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Railways. Following approval from the Central Government, the Sawantwadi Railway Station will be renamed “Lokmanya Madhu Dandavate Railway Terminus,” said the release.
Dandavate, a five-term MP from Rajapur Lok Sabha constituency (which is now Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat after delimitation in 2009), served as railway minister in the Morarji Desai government and finance minister in the VP Singh regime.
As a railway minister, Dandavate formally sanctioned the initial 1978-79 phase of the Konkan Railway line, connecting Apta to Roha, setting the foundation for the rail route that now connects Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.
He also officially abolished ‘Third Class’ travel in Indian Railways during the 1978 Railway Budget. He removed this colonial-era division by upgrading all third-class compartments to second-class and introducing cushioned, soft-foam seats.
Dandavate also served as Maharashtra Member of Legislative Council in 1971. In 1989, he was appointed finance minister in former Prime Minister V P Singh’s Cabinet.
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