The budget makes no mention of the Rs 800-crore project for including, in MUTP Phase II, the introduction of 12 car-rakes on the harbour line project. Last month, the chief minister had written to Mamata requesting her to do so.

“Work amounting to Rs 1400 crore under Phase I and Rs 5,175 crore under Phase II is still pending. The amount sanctioned is very little. This is like rubbing salt to city commuters’ wound,” said former railway minister Ram Naik.

Rail officials, however, say some budgetary provisions have been made for the city though they were not mentioned in the budget document. “The ministry has sanctioned Rs 14.5 crore for constructing a new platform, 6A at Borivali,” said Shyam Sundar Gupta, chief spokesperson, Western Railway.

P C Sehgal, managing director of Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), said, “The rail ministry has sanctioned Rs 304 crore for MUTP Phase I and Rs 125 for MUTP Phase II for the financial year. The state government, too, would give us equal amounts.”

The money would be spent on the Virar car-shed already under construction, addition of the fifth and sixth lines between Thane to Kurla and Thane to Diva, DC-to-AC conversion, extension of harbour line to Goregaon and purchase of new rakes.

STATUS REPORT
City wanted: 12-car-rake project on harbour line to be included in MUTP phase II

City got: No mention

City wanted: Allocation for Grant Road Terminus to decongest WR traffic

City got: No mention

City wanted: Budgetary provision for platform no 6A at Borivali

... contd.