CR, WR get 17 new trains

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After a long gap, Mumbai was given its fair share in the Union railway budget, which was announced on Tuesday. The state too received goodies for expansion of its services.
As per the budget, Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) will get a total of 17 new mail/express trains, of which 14 trains will serve either the city or state passengers.
CR has been given an AC Express train to run between Mumbai and Delhi via Bhopal-Khandwa and Bhusawal once a week. Earlier, this train was to be allotted to WR, but the Centre decided against it following CR’s long-pending demand for the same. Further, 72 additional services of local trains, augmentation of AC local trains at WR, have also been announced.
Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) too will receive `860 crore to carry out MUTP-2 projects, which were stuck due to want of funds.
The Union railway ministry, has allocated `400 crore for MUTP-2 projects and `30 crores for conversion of nine-car rakes into 12 cars on the Harbour Line. As per the agreement, the state will also release the same amount of funds to the MRVC. “Now, we will be in a position to carry out extension of the Harbour Line between Andheri and Goregaon, the second phase of the Virar carshed stabling line at different stations, construction of the fifth and sixth lines in Thane-Diwa and procurement of new Bombardier rakes,” said a senior official from the MRVC.
Further, to ease queues at Mumbai’s stations, the number of Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) or booking windows, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), Coin-Operated Ticket Vending Machines (CO-TVMs) and scheme of Jan-Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBSs) will be increased. The number of Adarsh stations will also go up.
To enhance safety and security of female passengers, especially in local trains, the ministry has reserved 10 per cent posts in the RPF for women constables. Nagpur has benefited the most, with the announcement of an executive lounge, plant for Rail Neer and setting up of a Multi-Tasking Training Institute.
Also, one new passenger train will ply between New Amravati and Narkher daily. Survey for three lines — Pandharpur-Vijapur via Mangalwedha, Vasai Road-Bye pass line between Naigoan and Diva (Juchandra), Washim-Mahur-Adilabad — has also been announced.