Rahul's Mumbai train trip spurs MPs into action

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All six MPs from Mumbai, belonging to the Congress, have decided to make a joint appeal to Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on how to make suburban train commuting more comfortable, secure and reliable.

During his short trips - from Andheri-Dadar on Western Railway (WR) followed by Dadar-Ghatkopar on Central Railway (CR), Rahul Gandhi had commented over the tough travelling conditions and observed: "Something must be done."

Taking a cue, prominent NGO AGNI organised a meeting of all the city MPs with the CR and WR general managers and other important citizens to consider the issue Wednesday.

Two young MPs - Priya Dutt and Sanjay Nirupam - also volunteered to raise the issue of the problems afflicting the daily eight million Mumbai suburban commuters during the forthcoming budget session of parliament, AGNI trustee Gerson Dacunha said here.

Considerable time was spent discussing a crucial aspect - cleanliness of toilets at all railway stations which particularly affects women commuters. This prompted Nirupam to enquire whether the MPs discretionary funds could be utilised for the purpose of providing clean toilets at railway stations.

Besides this, the MPs' joint letter will also raise issues like separate administrative units for the suburban railway network in the Mumbai region, freeing of railway lands from encroachment and bringing them under the administrative control of the railways, emergency medical treatment facilities at all railway stations.

The letter will also seek a budgetary allocation of Rs.8 billion for operating 12-coach trains on CR and Harbour Line and Rs.11 billion for running 15-coach trains on WR.

The charter incorporating all these points was agreed upon and drafted by AGNI managing trustee D.M. Sukhthankar, ex-chief secretary of Maharashtra.

--IANS