INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The MUTP had received Rs 578 crore in financial year 2019-20, rail activists said.Mumbai: The Centre has allocated Rs 550 crore for Mumbai
Urban Transport Project (MUTP) to expand and increase the capacity of Mumbai's suburban network.According to the 'pink book', a budget
document containing detailed allocation for various projects and works, which was released on Wednesday, Rs 200 crore has been allocated for
MUTP-2, Rs 300 crore for MUTP-3 and Rs 50 crore for MUTP-3A.However, the MUTP has received Rs 28 crore less funds compared to financial year
2019-20, when the total allocation for the MUTP was Rs 578 crore, rail activists said.Although the funds for MUTP have decreased, the
railways should focus on spending the entire allocation within a set deadline, National Railway Users Consultative Committee member Subhash
Gupta said.The budget document stated that the Belapur-Seawood-Uran project, which will provide connectivity to the proposed Navi Mumbai
airport and Raigad district, would get Rs 100 crore in the financial year 2020-21.In her budget speech last week, Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that trains such as Tejas would be operated for tourist destinations.Focusing on the proposed private train
operations from the city, the government has allocated Rs eight crore for Panvel terminus in Navi Mumbai and Rs one crore for a rail
terminus at Jogeshwari in western suburbs, a railway official said.The Western Railway received Rs 1.18 crore for the integrated security
system at 32 of its suburban stations, and Rs 4.24 crore for conservation and restoration of Bandra station as a Grade-I heritage
structure.The Central Railway said Rs 55 crore was allocated for the 67 km-long third line between Kalyan and Kasara stations.The budget
will reduce the pressure on existing two lines and allow the railways to run more trains on the corridor.Mumbai has received enough funds
for passenger amenities and infrastructure facilities such as lifts, escalators and foot overbridges, a railway official said.
