Mumbai to soon get ‘Metro-like' AC local trains with closed doors, chief minister Devendra Fadanvis tells legislative assembly
Devendra Fadnavis
told the legislative assembly on Friday. Though the AC coaches will be new and not refitted, there will be no increase in train fare, he said, adding that Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will soon make a formal announcement on the AC coaches for Mumbai local trains.
Fadnavis further said that the underground Colaba-BKC-Aarey Metro 3 is expected to be fully operational by Oct, and the Navi Mumbai international airport will be completed by Sept-end.
"The development of Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) is underway. Work on Vadhavan Port is also going on at a fast rate. Vadhavan Port, which will be among the top 10 ports in the world, will give new maritime strength to Mumbai and Maharashtra," Fadnavis said, while replying to the debate in the assembly.
"We are also creating an Education City in Navi Mumbai, where the total education expenses will be 25% of that of abroad studies.
We expect 10 foreign universities to come here; five renowned universities have already signed agreements."
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Referring to the June 9 Mumbra train tragedy that claimed five lives, the CM said: "Today, we have created two classes in train commute for Mumbaikars: the fully AC Metro where doors close and brings ease of travel, and the overcrowded suburban trains which see accidents due to the open doors.
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Therefore, we requested PM Modi and railway minister Vaishnaw that the local trains should have Metro-like coaches — fully AC and doors that close.
We also demanded that these coaches be installed without increasing train fare even by a single rupee."
He added that Vaishnaw, who was in Mumbai, said that they will take a positive decision in this regard. "Vaishnaw will come to Mumbai soon and make an official announcement," the CM said.
Fadnavis also dismissed the allegation made by Congress MLA Nana Patole about a 'honeytrap' racket targeting state officials posted in Thane, Nashik and Mantralaya (secretariat) in Mumbai, saying there was no evidence and Patole had failed to make any expose. "There is no honey or trap," he added.
Fadnavis further informed the assembly that crime rate in the state has decreased by 6.75%, and in Nagpur by 11% compared to the previous years. "Detection of cybercrime cases has increased to 16%. Also, 91% atrocities on women cases and 98% rape cases have been detected in the state. Shockingly, in 99.5% of rape cases, the accused was an acquaintance or relative of the victim," he said. "More than 2,000 accused have been arrested in drug cases, and provisions have been made to impose MCOCA on drug peddlers.
Thirteen policemen have been dismissed. The new laws provide for completing investigations within 90 days and giving importance to forensic evidence."
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