Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has requested the union railway ministry to consider door closing technology on a few rakes on an experimental basis and introduction of cushioned seats in ladies' second class coaches on suburban trains in a phased manner.
In a letter to the Union Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda today, ahead of the railway budget, Chavan also demanded introduction of air-conditioned suburban services as a pilot project as well as adequate funds for construction of modern toilets on suburban railway stations in Mumbai.
"A number of commuters have been killed or injured while crossing tracks, boarding crowded trains or falling off trains. Funds must be provided for construction of escalators, and foot overbridges," Chavan wrote.
He said that metropolitan transport projects are critical for the development of the Mumbai metropolitan region and to provide cheap and fast suburban services.
He requested an enhanced outlay of Rs 50 crore for the Belapur-Uran double line, from Rs 40 crore provided in the interim budget.
Chavan said that the project would connect Uran directly with Mumbai and also facilitate transportation in the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport notified area.
He said that the outlay for Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) II should be increased to Rs 500 crore from Rs 375 crore provided in the interim project.
Chavan demanded an outlay of Rs 100 crore to initiate projects to double the Panvel-Karjat corridor and construction of a link from Airoli on the transharbour section to Kalwa.
He said that the Mumbai suburban network presently carries about 7.5 million commuters per day.
