Ram Naik demands white paper on suburban rail projects

MUMBAI: Terming the proposed elevated rail corridors projects in Mumbai suburban as mirage, BJP leader Ram Naik has demanded that railways should instead concentrate on completing the existing project to improve the suburban services in the city.
Former union minister Naik said, “There has to be public debate on the need for the elevated rail projects, considering the fact that these project are expensive.It will have higher fares, which will make the journey unaffordable for people from lower socio economic back ground.”
Railways have already issued Request For Qualification for Churchgate-Virar elevated railway corridor. Besides, Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has also began planning for CST-Panvel elevated rail corridor that also aims to provided rail connectivity between south Mumbai and the proposed Navi Mumbai International airport. Central Railway is also keen to implemented a similar corridor between CST and Kalyan. He said, “The elevated project appears to a mirage considering the fate of other elevated metro rail corridors (Verosva-Andheri-Ghatkopar and Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd)) that are running well-behind schedule.”
Naik said that the railways should instead concentrate on upgrading the existing services to 15-car to bring down over-crowding in trains.
He appealed to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to travel in suburban railway to understand the problems encountered by the commuters.
Naik has sought an appointment with railway minister C P Joshi to discuss the issues of. Mumbai suburban railways.