For those who had lost all hope in the suburban local train services, there is good news
For those who had lost all hope in the suburban local train services, there is good news. During his visit to the city last week, the new Union Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu was confident that Mumbai railways could achieve a quick turnaround. So confident, that he said if he didn’t manage to improve things in 15 days, he would consider himself unfit for his post.
ADVERTISEMENT
Suresh Prabhu recently took charge as the Union Minister for Railways on November 10. File pic
According to senior railway officials, the minister was very serious about the lack of punctuality and other issues that plague the local trains. “Disruptions in the local service have increased since the past few months. The railway minister is very serious about it and has given 15 days to resolve the issues,” an official from the Central Railway told this paper.
The suburban section carries over 70 lakh passengers every day, and according to the minister, problems that affect so many, should be dealt with immediately. “The minister told the officials that if the railways’ punctuality and other issues do not improve within 15 days, then he will not consider himself fit for the chair,” said Kirit Somaiya, BJP MP.
The minister also cracked the whip on senior officials, and asked them to understand and take care of their responsibilities. “He gave us 15 days to resolve all the issues, but the railway authorities assured him that they would rectify the problems within seven days,” said another official.