150 more trains, escalators for Mumbai stations

More trains, less crowds, Rs 5000 cr, escalators for Mumbai locals & stations is what is on the agenda as announced during the Railway Budget by the Ministry. 

The Railways will introduce 300-350km per hour trains. The Raliway Minister added that the development of 225 stations will be completed by March.

Mr Yadav said that Mumbai locals will reduce crowding and investments worth Rs 5,000 crore has been set aside for Mumbai locals. Also, escalators will be installed at important local stations.

With the help rakes, 150 new suburban trains are proposed to be introduced, by making suitable adjustments in the time table on the Western and Central Railways. The government intends to increase Mumbai's local train capacity in the new 5-year plan.

Also on the agenda, they intend boost conversion to broad gauge in the 5-year plan and cut freight losses. They intend to increase IT spending in railway operations.

In keeping with the announcement made in the last Budget for Mumbai suburban services, three additional rakes have been provided on Western Railway and the fourth rake will be made available by March 2007.

The Ministry added that on the Central Railway one additional rake has been added in Thane-Turbhe area and another will be available by March 2007.

The work of DC to AC conversion has been completed on the Kasara to Titawala section. The quadrupling work from Borivili to Virar is likely to be completed soon and induction of new rakes through MRVC will also start early.

Additionally, the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad presented the following new services originating from Mumbai in the Lok Sabha the Railway Budget 2007-08.

Of the 65 new trains, the following trains will originate or terminate in Mumbai
1. Mumbai-Aurangabad Janshatabdi Express (6 Days in a Week)
2. Chhapra- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai)
3. Mumbai-Ajmer/Udaipur Express (3 Days in a week) (After Gauge Conversion)

Garib Rath
The following new Garib Rath train is proposed to be introduced in Mumbai:-
1. Jaipur-Bandra (Terminus) via Ahmedabad Garib Rath (3 days in a week)