Budget gives no relief to Mumbaikars

Mumbai: Overcrowding is the prime concern of train commuters in Mumbai and their difficulties have been ignored again in this year's rail budget presented on Tuesday by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

"From an all-India perspective, the rail budget is good but where Mumbai is concerned we are not happy since our major demand for new trains to ease overcrowding in suburban trains has not been fulfilled," Dr S.J. Garg of the Railway Passenger and Traffic Relief Association, told Gulf News.

Former railway minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Ram Naik, said: "The nearly Rs35 billion rail project under the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, which I had launched, still remains uncompleted.

"Lalu Prasad has stated in his budget that 'these projects are progressing well'‚ but only one, the Borivili-Virar quadrupling project, has been completed and 50 per cent of the funds are still not spent," he said.

These projects should have been completed between 2004 and 2007, he added.

As for reducing rail fares, Naik said: "This does not apply to suburban commuters in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai who together form 78 per cent of the daily travelling public. They don't get any advantage of the scheme."

More than cheaper fares, "what we want is more frequency of trains and at least a place for us to stand in the compartments which are perpetually overcrowded," said engineering student Sandip Rajgopal, who commutes daily from Chembur to Panvel on the Harbour Line.

Though Naik thinks the minister has given a pre-election speech, Garg does not feel there is any political tinge to the rail budget.

At the all-India level, there are several positive steps proposed in the budget that will improve rail travel in the country and also benefit many users.

These include 50 per cent concession on fares to senior female citizens and free season tickets for students up to 12th standard and up to graduation level for girls.

Rail users also welcomed the Smart Card in Mumbai suburban service to be launched by the end of next month. The Central Railway has already started trial runs.

The multi-purpose card named "Go Mumbai Card"‚ can also be used to buy tickets for BEST buses. This initiative would end long queues at ticket counters for daily train passengers.

Pre-feasibility studies for the introduction of an elevated fully airconditioned metro service between Mumbai Central and Virar stations on the Western Railway is being considered.

Mumbai Central will be transformed in to a world class terminal like some other stations like Patna in the country, Lalu said.