Mumbai-Ahmedabad double decker still stuck in red tape

One of the key promises of running double-deck trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad that commuters have been waiting for so long remains unfulfilled as the train got stuck in red-tape and trials.

Though a similar train was inducted on the Howrah route, the Mumbai train is yet to see the light of the day. Senior officials said they would try and fulfill the promise within the financial year as they were still awaiting the double-deck trains to arrive from Rail Coach Factory.

The other promise of improving and upgrading Kurla Terminus is almost complete and would be opened soon. All services on the Central Railway’s (CR) mainline have been converted into 12-car, though the Western Railway (WR) is lagging behind. Work has also proceeded ahead on extending the suburban line to Uran and building a third line on the Harbour Line between Kurla and Wadala.

“We have recently upgraded the timetable and introduced additional Harbour Line services as per the promise. There will be more upgrades soon,’’ an official said. Last year’s budget had called for 47 more additional services.

The railways have also begun ground work on the proposed escalators at suburban stations and they will soon be a reality.

Works on additional lines and the Mumbai Urban Transport Projects (MUTP) have also inched ahead by finalising orders with Bombardier for new trains and beginning work on the Diva-Thane fifth and sixth lines.