Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 11: In the aftermath of the tragic railway accident in Mumbra that claimed four lives, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced significant changes aimed at enhancing passenger safety and comfort on the Mumbai suburban railway network.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Fadnavis said the Indian Railways is preparing to replace existing suburban train rakes with air-conditioned (AC) coaches, equipped with door-shutting facilities to prevent overcrowding mishaps. Importantly, he assured that the fares of these AC trains would be kept close to the current suburban rates to ensure affordability for daily commuters.
The announcement came after a detailed discussion between Fadnavis and Union Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw, focusing on long-term preventive measures in the wake of the Mumbra incident. “Efforts will be made to match the AC train services to the Metro experience, both in comfort and cost, ensuring there's no discrimination in the quality of commute,” Fadnavis stated.
Highlighting ongoing efforts to address the overcrowding issue during peak hours, he said that the limited reach of the current Metro network in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) contributes to the pressure on local trains. To counter this, the suburban rail’s carrying capacity is set to be significantly ramped up.
Fadnavis also emphasized the massive investment made in Maharashtra’s railway infrastructure over the past 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “From platform upgrades and route strengthening to escalator installations and water facilities — it has been the highest budgetary allocation for suburban railways in independent India’s history,” he asserted.
The press meet was part of a larger outreach campaign by the BJP, marking 11 years of the Modi government at the Centre. The party plans to roll out a 10-day public engagement drive across districts and tehsils to showcase the government’s performance and developmental achievements.