Naik flags off nameless8217; train

The thrice-a-week service will be converted into a daily service from July. The superfast express is the first new train to be introduced by the railways after the budget on May 29.

According to Naik, the 16-coach train will soon be increased to 21 compartments after a review of travellers8217; response. He said that the time saved by routing the train through the Konkan Railway would earn the railways Rs 20 crore every year. 8220;Soon we will be able to save nearly 10 lakh man-days every year, which can be utilised for better purposes,8221; he said.

Commenting on the increase inpassenger fares in the recent railway budget, Naik said that it was a harsh but inevitable decision considering the drop in freight traffic in the last few decades. 8220;Immediately after Independence we used to carry nearly 89 per cent of total freight in the country. Now the share has shrunk to 40 per cent,8221; he added. He blamed exorbitant fares for the decline. 8220;Moreover an increase of Rs 5 for a monthly pass is comparatively negligible for the Mumbai commuter,8221; he added.

In an informal chat with the press after the function, Naik revealed plans for modernisation of various railway stations on both central and western railway. The projects for the development of Andheri and Borivli stations have been given to IRCON, a railway firm. He refused to divulge more details saying that negotiations are underway for developing other stations like Kalyan, Thane, Kurla and Mumbai Central. 8220;A sum of Rs three crore has already been sanctioned for the Kurla project, which is expected to cost around Rs 18 crore,8221; headded. Naik felt that until the second phase of the MUTP project got underway, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation would have to rely on budgetary support.

Congress MP Gurudas Kamat, who was present at the function, said it was unfair to tax the overburdened Mumbai commuter for the railways8217; benefit. He also called for better transport facilities to reach Kurla Terminus. 8220;Can8217;t the BMC start a bus service to the terminus?8221; he asked. Deputy mayor Gopal Shetty, who was present on the dais, promised to look into the matter.