Ahead of Railway budget, MPs from Mumbai meet CR General Manager

Just days before the Railway Budget is to be tabled on February 26 in the Parliament, MPs of Mumbai and its Metropolitan region met the Central Railway General Manager on February 10. The MPs wanted the meeting, which took place in the afternoon, to find out what was in store for the city in the forthcoming budget and also place certain demands based on people's feedback.

All the MPs stressed the need for additional suburban local services for the city's growing population. They also demanded better facilities at all stations and spoke of the need for adequate toilets at all stations.

"I have made several demands that has been already included in the list of demands for the railway budget. This was a routine meeting with the rail authorities," said MP Kirit Somaiya who attended this meeting.

He discussed the need to bring the Bombardier rakes sooner to Mumbai, getting faster clearance for power conversion from 25000-volt AC to 1500-volt DC, increasing the height of platforms, providing multiple exits at various stations like Bhandup, Govandi where the number of people has gone up, utilisation of 5th and 6th lines wherever available for long distance trains, maintenance of ATVM machines and efforts to increase JTBS and utilisation of RCF land for creating railway Infrastructure.

Meanwhile, MP Rahul Shewale, discussed the viability of commercial usage of railway land at Dadar station, co-ordination with BMC for removing hawkers from and around Dadar station, deployment of adequate RPF and GRP at Kurla and LTT stations, upgradation of Mankhurd station and provision of toilets for ladies at all stations.

Rajya Sabha member Hussain Dalwai discussed the need for protection of railway land from encroachment apart from behaviour of RPF personnel at railway stations.

MP Kapil Patil discussed the need to bring Bhivandi on the suburban network and doubling of tracks on the Panvel-Karjat route.