Thane: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announced that a Technical Task Force (TTF) would be set up to resolve the issues faced by train commuters in the Mumbai division.
"We are working towards an integrated transport system for Mumbai, which includes Thane and other areas. I am aware that railway commuters in Mumbai division are facing several problems. All these woes would be addressed in a phased manner and the citizens would see marked improvements in the coming days," Prabhu said on Friday.
"A Technical Task Force (TTF) would be set up to address the issues faced by the railway commuters in Mumbai Division. I have given directions in this regards to the Railway Board," he added.
He made this announcement during an interaction with representatives of railway passenger associations from Thane district on the sidelines of an event.
"I am the Railway Minister for the entire country and I cannot see commuters in Mumbai suffering and hence I have decided to take steps to resolve the issues. Some of the measures will be temporary, while others would be permanent," he said.
The minister also announced to set up railway corporation for Maharashtra. "It will leave no room for complaint that the money generated in Maharashtra is used in Karnataka or elsewhere," he said.
Prabhu said he held a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis yesterday during which several decisions were taken, which would be implemented in a phased manner.
"The possibility of having an elevated track between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Panvel would be examined," he said.
The Minister said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to take up the Railway Ministry, he was initially reluctant.
"But later on I realised that by becoming the Railway Minister, I will be able to serve three crore commuters. I felt this was the best opportunity given to me to serve the citizens and I readily accepted it," he said.
