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Cr-ying foul: One of the new trains alloted to Central Railway |
WR has written a letter to the ministry demanding a reason for this discrimination. Under Phase I of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has planned to acquire 101 new trains, which were supposed to be distributed between the two railways.
Shyam Sunder Gupta, CPRO, WR, said, "We have written a letter demanding more rakes, so that we can increase our services. We have been given only three new rakes, while CR has been allotted 16." One train provides 15 services (up and down) per day. Thus, WR needs at least 13 trains, in order to increase their services per day by 200. WR has also asked the ministry to direct the Chennai-based ICF to speed up production.
Till August 27
K K Prakasan, joint conveyor, Pravas Adhikar Andolan Samiti, said, "There is an increase in commuters north of Borivli, but the number of trains are the same. The first preference should be given to Virar locals, but due to some conspiracy, this has not been done." Prakasan has also written a letter to the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) and WR officials. He has given them time till August 27 to look into the matter. "The board is being unfair. We have requested them to give us our share of trains from the 12 new rakes that have already come, and seven that are expected shortly," he added.
Ajay Singh, divisional secretary, Western Railway Mazdoor Sangh, which looks after the passengers' queries, said, "Commuters on WR are increasing, but the board is least bothered. Most of the new rakes are being allotted to the CR. Why this discrimination?"
Commuter count
WR: 1,135 services per day for around 33 lakh commuters
CR: 1,356 services per day for 35 lakh commuters
