Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced on Wednesday that the government is working to improve urban transport and find the new ways to ease Mumbai's congestion. His comments came after a recent Mumbra train accident that killed five people
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. File pic.
The Maharashtra government is working on strengthening the urban mobility network in the state and exploring alternative modes of transport to ease congestion in Mumbai, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik told the legislative assembly on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI.
Meanwhile, his statements came as he responded to a calling attention notice by the BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar concerning the recent train accident in Mumbra that tragically claimed the lives of five commuters.
However, following the incident, the government is focused on enhancing the urban mobility network and investigating alternative transportation methods such as waterways, ropeways, and ‘pod taxis’ in Mumbai, Sarnaik confirmed.
Although the railways fall under the Centre’s jurisdiction, the state remains committed to passenger safety, he said, further adding that railway officials have been directed to implement crowd control measures at stations and reduce fatalities during travel, reported PTI.
Furthermore, the minister also mentioned the possible creation of a task force to revise office times for private firms to ease pressure on public transport.
Meanwhile, action is also being taken against malpractices by app-based aggregator transport services, the minister added.
Replying to a debate on another calling attention notice, Minister of State for Home (Rural) Pankaj Bhoyar said a police case had been filed in connection with the 2 April accident on the Shegaon-Khamgaon highway that left six people dead and 13 injured, according to PTI.
Moreover, the incident involved a state transport bus, an SUV, and a luxury travel bus. The PWD (Public Works Department) has been instructed to install speed limit signs and rumblers at the accident spot, he said, replying to a question asked by the Congress MLA Nana Patole.
According to PTI, in response to a calling attention notice about the development of 42 villages in the Kolhapur district, Industries Minister Uday Samant announced that the Kolhapur Urban Region Development Authority (KURDA) will be granted special planning authority status within two months.
Meanwhile, this authority covers nearly 42 villages in Karveer and Hatkanangale talukas, reported PTI.
Industries Minister Samant was replying to a notice from MLA Chandradeep Narke.
(with PTI inputs)
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