Mumbai/Pune, Agency
"A bullet train corridor between Mumbai and Pune will be developed soon," union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, highlighting plans to significantly reduce travel time between the two major Maharashtra cities.
Speaking to the media, Vaishnaw stated, "The proposed corridor will make it possible for people to travel between Mumbai and Pune even twice a day, quipping that one could go to Mumbai for vada pav and Pune for bakharwadi."
He added, "The government has been working towards creating faster and more convenient rail connectivity between the two cities."
Vaishnaw also said that, "The government has been expanding railway services during the Ganesh festival."
He recalled that he had promised more than 300 special trains during the elections and said that "350 special trains would be operated this year. If required, another 20 services will be introduced to meet the additional rush."
The Railway Minister highlighted that, "The railway projects worth around Rs 18,000 crore are currently underway in Mumbai and its adjoining areas."
Taking a swipe at the previous Maharashtra government, Vaishnaw alleged that the bullet train project has earlier faced obstruction under the then state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Further, he said, "Work on the project has subsequently gathered pace.
Vaishnaw also announced plans to strengthen connectivity between Mumbai and Hyderabad, saying, "The proposed rail connectivity will eventually enable the journey to be completed in around three-and-a-quarter hours."
On suburban railway services, the minister said, "Work is underway to modernise Mumbai's signalling system. The installation of automatic doors in suburban trains are among the government's priorities."
"The Railway Board has approved 238 new AC local trains for Mumbai," Vaishnaw stated. The first of these trains is expected to arrive in 2027, while the entire fleet is planned to be operational by 2030.
"Mumbai currently has around 3,200 local train services every day. The number will be increased to 3,500," he said. The Railways is also planning to increase the number of 15-car local trains to improve passenger convenience and help ease overcrowding on the city's suburban network.
Furthermore, the proposed expansion of suburban services, modern signalling and introduction of additional AC locals are aimed at making daily travel more comfortable for millions of Mumbai commuters.
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