Increased outlay pleases bureaucrats

State railway officials are pleased with Maharashtra getting a higher proportion of revenue in the Union railway budget as compared to Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh within the Western railway division. The budget has proposed Rs 47,667 crore to be allotted to Maharashtra following Rs 4,325 crore for MP. Gujarat will get a proportionate share of Rs 3530 crore.

According to G.C. Agrawal, general manager of Western Railway, Maharashtra’s outlay is a 10 per cent increase over the previous financial year.

During 2015-16 budget, the state was allocated an outlay of Rs 4,458 crore.

Elaborating the highlights of the budget, Mr Agrawal said Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu mentioned several issues regarding the Mumbai suburban system of Western Railway in his budget speech.

Mr Agrawal said, “NITI Ayog has in principal approved MUTP-III and instructed to forward it. Quadrupling of Virar-Dahanu Road worth Rs 3,555 crore has been approved. New suburban railway corridor between Panvel-Karjat on Central Railway worth Rs 2,612 and Airoli-Kalwa Corridor link has also been approved by the Ayog.”

The Railway ministry has sanctioned 31 Road Over Bridges and 35 subways apart from announcing seven surveys in seven different sections totaling 933 kms length tracks for Maharashtra.

Mr Agrawal said financial closures and early award of tenders for two elevated corridors, Churchgate-Virar and SCT-Panvel, are the other major announcements that would give railways a big push.