Improving Mumbai suburban train services top of my agenda: Goyal RAILWAY MINISTER
Also suggests there’s new train to ensure faster commute between Mumbai-Delhi
Praising the job done by his predecessor Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister for Coal and Railways Piyush Goyal claimed that Mumbai city was his priority in terms of scaling of railway infrastructure. He also added that India had invested heavily in the safety issue.
Goyal, in the city for discussions with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and for other commitments, said that they discussed ways to expand the suburban network. “We discussed ways in which we can rapidly scale up the number of available supply facilities for the local suburban networks. I promise you that Mumbai has been on the top of my agenda, it has been my priority,” he said at an event.
He gave an assurance that in few days the state government or railways would make some announcements. He also talked about a technology that it may not be a bullet train, but would ensure that the commute between Delhi to Mumbai was faster and was confident that this would be more or less like competing with the airlines.
Commenting about the bullet train, Goyal stated that the Railways would expand it through the length and breadth of the country and the ultimate goal was to connect the country.
Without blaming the UPA government directly, Goyal said that the safety issue related to the railways was not an overnight occurrence. “It was due to neglect for years and years,” he stressed. He went on to say that Prabhu had done a remarkable job as the railway minister and that he had done most of the job for Goyal. He added, “India invested heavily on safety related measures and for better safety related technology….”
He also added that railway is not just looking at electrifying 17,000 kms of lines but also the remaining 35,000 kms of lines. He stated that electrifying railways would help them save Rs 16,000 crore.