Railway officials give Suresh Prabhu December deadline

At a time when MUTP (Mumbai Urban Transport Project) III has reached Nity Aayog for approval, officials are still trying to complete MUTP II. Sources said Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has cracked the whip on city railway officials saying that work on MUTP II must be completed as the World Bank has been asking for updates.

Projects under MUTP II including complete delivery of the 72 Bombardier-make trains and creation of infrastructure for trespass control at 12 stations are yet to be completed. Railways had awarded contract for trespass control only a year ago in January 2015 and was asked to give the minister a deadline by when work would be completed.

As a result, city railway officials have given a deadline of December this year for the projects under MUTP II. “We were asked by the minister as to when the work would be completed and we intimated him that 35 of the 72 rakes have already been delivered. As for trespass control, it will be completed by December this year. This will be a challenge as it is a serious infrastructure project... that will take time,” said an official on condition of anonymity.