Ahead of the local body polls in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which accounts for more than 20% of the state population, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off 36 new local train services on the Central Railway (CR) and dedicated to the nation the fifth and sixth railway lines between Thane and Diva stations.
The 36 services, including 34 AC locals, will be operational on the CR’s mainline from Saturday, catering to more than 17 lakh commuters. The two new railway lines are part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP 2B) that got approval in 2008.
Modi, who joined the function at Thane via videoconferencing, said with the new railway lines, there are separate tracks for local and express trains. “Trains coming from other states will not have to wait for local trains to pass. Besides, express trains can be operated without much obstruction between Kalyan and Kurla, and Kalwa-Mumbai commuters will not be troubled by mega block every Sunday. The 36 trains are part of the Central government’s commitment to expand and modernise the facility on local services.”
