NCP Constituency Map, OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY, MAHARASHTRA STATE

Smt. Supriya Sule

MP (Rajya Sabha )

Housing: Better quarters, colonies, planning to built 6,560 new staff quarters this year;
Health: General Managers can sanction treatment up to Rs. 4 lakh, new burn units at six railway hospitals, upgradation of hospitals in Kolkata, dormitory for patient’s attendants.
For education: New medical colleges with 18 railways hospitals, seven nursing colleges to provide education.
Employment: Job drive for handicapped, better representation to women, minorities, backward sections and sportspersons.
Apart from this the Minister has announced many facilities for the Railways staff’s welfare also:
Apart from this the Minister has announced many facilities for the Railways staff’s welfare also:
For the passenger: No increase in fares, 50 world class stations, 375 Adarsh Stations, Multi-functional complexes at 50 stations, 12 non-stop super faster duronto trains, Yuva AC trains with fares between Rs. 299 and Rs. 399, Doctor on board for every long distance trains, infotainment on Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and some other super fast trains; double-decker AC trains, Toilets on locals like aircraft style, Tatkal charges down from Rs. 150 to Rs. 100, mobile ticketing vans in several areas, free travel now also for madrasa students, ladies special in rush for Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, disabled and aged to have special coaches in trains, and Izzat scheme – a scheme in which with Rs. 25 monthly ticket, poor can travel with dignity.
Madam Speaker, I stand before this august house in support of the railways budget presented by the Railway Minister. I congratulate the Minister of presenting a people friendly budget, without increasing any passenger and freight rates. The budget presented by the Railway Minister is a social budget and not just economic viability should be the yardstick.
However, the budget is good for the country but not very beneficial for the city and Maharashtra. Mumbai which accounts for half the Indian Railways’ daily passenger load of 1.25 crore who belong to lower middle class and working community especially women. The railway budget had also once again given a raw deal. Barring some symbolic gestures, it had done a little to boost the creaking suburban network that is the lifeline of the financial capital.
Adarsh Stations to be developed in and around Mumbai are – Andheri, Bandra, Belapur, Bhandup, Bhayander, Borivali, Charni Road, Dadar, Dahanu Road, Dockyard Road, Dombivili, Ghatkopar, Goregaon, Karjat, Kasara, Khopoli, King’s Circle, Kurla, Malad, Marine Lines, Matunga, Mira Road, Mulund, Mumbai Central, Nahur, Naigaon, Panvel, Saphale, Sewri, Tilak Nagar, Turbhe, Ulhasnagar, Vashi and Virar. An amount of Rs.14.5 crore is allocated for the platform No. 6A at Borivali.
Madam, I would also like to mention the allocations made in the budget for my State.
In the Silver Lining
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur as 50 stations chosen across the country to be developed as World Class Stations. The Railway Minister has also included 38 suburban stations to be developed as Adarsh Stations, with facilities such as drinking water, catering service, waiting rooms and dormitories, especially for women passengers.
The remarkable point is no increase in freight rates. Proposal for making private freight terminals, mega logistics hubs along the Eastern and Western freight corridors; cold storages and refrigerated cargo hubs for fruit and vegetables, super-fast parcel express trains from dedicated terminals with guaranteed timings and web-based booking, which will help farmers and also new plans for developing railway land, space through private-public partnership (PPP) route is a welcome step.

MUTP funded by World Bank is 50%, Government of India is 25% and Government of Maharashtra is 25%. Provision of Rs. 304 crore for MUTP Phase I and Rs.125 crore for MUTP Phase II has been made in the budget provisions, totaling to Rs. 429 crore. Similar contribution will be made by Govt. of Maharashtra. Therefore, the total outlay for the year 2009-10 for the works being executed by MRVC will be Rs. 858 crore, which will not be sufficient for the works planned during 2009-10. Therefore, additional funds are required. MUTP Phase II sanctioned in the Budget 2008-09 at a cost of Rs. 5300 crore is under implementation and more needs to be done.

Government of Maharashtra has written to the Railway Ministry for help in the production of 48 twelve car EMU takes during 2009-10 as per the programme issued by Railway Board. So far there is a shortfall. Against a targeted production of 12 rakes, only 6 rakes have been manufactured and the shortfall of 6 rakes is required to be made good in the coming months.

Sanction of running of 12-car EMU trains on Harbour Line as the proposal was sent to Hon’ble Minister of Railways for material modification against sanctioned MUTP Phase II.

Self Help Groups and differently able people should get stalls at all stations, so that they can lead a respectful life in the society and also support their family members.
Ladies special trains should be increased and the strength of the women police should be increased for the safety and security of ladies passengers and also introduce luggage bogies for the woman venders.
The city wanted the allocation for Grant Road Terminus to decongest WR traffic which has also not found a place in the budget, in Mumbai there is central line, harbour line and western line, need additional trains. There should be 12 compartments instead of 9 and 15 compartments instead 12 in all local trains and more security is needed urgently for these lines.
The Deccan Odyssey luxury train project was announced in the Railway Budget of 2000-01. The project commenced in October 2004 and was quite on the track till introduction of new haulage cost policy of the Railway Board with effect from October 2008. As per this policy the haulage charges are ranging between Rs. 29 to 34 lacks per trip. This policy does take into account the actual income made from each trip. Because of this policy, the State/MTDC has incurred losses of around Rs. 2.02 crore in 2008-09 season. We have taken up this issue of haulage charges for Deccan Odyssey with the Railway Board and the then Hon’ble Minister.

Post terror attack, Mumbai needs to be given special concession in haulage charges. However, Railway Board is not looking into the merits and is insisting upon State Government/MTDC to sign the MOU about payment of haulage charges. You will appreciate that, unless there is at least 50% reduction in the haulage cost, it would not be possible to run the train in the State.

In view of the above, Chief Minister of Maharashtra suggested few points for your consideration as under:

- Grant of 50% reduction in haulage charges for the tours operated in 2008-09 season. The haulage recovered for this period may be refunded or adjusted for future tours in the State of Maharashtra;

· - The 50% concession in haulage charges may made applicable for regular tours in Maharashtra for 2009-10 season and continue the same for at least next 10 years; OR

· - The initial formula of 50:50 revenue sharing be continued for another 10-15 years, till this Joint Venture of the Indian Railways and Government of Maharashtra becomes a profitable enterprise.

Madam Speaker, I would also like to draw your attention the Minister to four important new railway line projects in the State of Maharashtra, where Maharashtra Government has agreed to provide 50% of the total project cost from State Budget.

1. Ahmednagar-Beed-Parali Vaijnath 261.25 KM

2. Wardha-Nanded Via Yavatmal Pusad 270.00KM

3. Manmad-Indore via Malegaon Dhule 350.00KM

Shirpur-Nardana, Sendhwa, Mhow

4. Wadsa, Desaiganj-Armori-Gadchiroli 49.50KM

5. Surat-Nashik-Pune

(Pune-Nashik is sanctioned in the current budget)

I would also like to make a few requests for the consideration of the Railway Minister:

1. Halt of Train No. 1077 Jhelum Express, 2129 Hawda Express, 6011 Chennai Express should be stopped at Kedgaon, which is one of the main city in Pune District.

2. Opening of Chiklavli station between Ambernath and Badlapur on the Central Railway, Dist, Thane.

3. There is no railway connection at Khamgaon, Buldhana District to Jalna in Marathwada region, and this should be taken into consideration immediately.

4. Murbad taluka in Thane district connection Kalyan-Ahmednagar-Rahuri will help to adiwasi and backward areas. Survey has been done decades ago. No work done yet.

5. As per today’s situation the number of passengers is increasing from Karjat/Khopoli/ Kasara/Virar and the presently running trains are not able to carry the passenger load. Introduction of shuttle service from Thane-Kalyan to Kasara-Khopoli at peak hours can solve this problem.

6. Provide proper transit facility at Umbermali station.

7. Provide stations at Savroli, Guravalo and Kedgaon (Daund)

1. Construct over-bridge for pedestrians at Kalyan, Thane, Shahad, Asangaon, Kasara Karjat and speed up and complete the ongoing construction of over bridges at Khardi, Ambernath, Karjat, Vangani and Badlapur station.

2. Shuttle Service from Virar-Dahanu may be extended upto Bordi Road.

3. Virar-Dahanu local train announced earlier should be start.

4. Boisar train timing may be improved.

5. In western line Mira Road to Bordi Road trains should be stop at Virar station.

Frequency of the trains to be increased in the following routes

Mira Road – VT (Western)

Bhayander – VT (Western)

Thane – VT (Central)

CBD – Vasi – VT (Harbour)

Nerul – Vasi – VT (Harbour)

Request for restarting the Nerul-Kurla route and extend the Mangla Express via Nashik to Thiruananthapuram. Also increase the frequency of the Nashik-Mumbai-Panchavati Express.

6. Virar-Dahanu Road shuttle services extend upto Vasai and Borivali.

7. All the trains running via Pandharpur should have a halt at this station.

8. Provide Railway ambulance service with adequate manpower for the treatment of injured persons at every station and make and

9. Basic facilities like good food & drinking water and clean toilet at stations and trains should be made available.

I think, all the above requirements are very genuine, I would request you kindly consider it.

Constituency

Madam, I would also like to draw your kind attention that some retired railway employees constructed hutments at the railway land in Daund, Pune District. They have been staying there for the last twenty years, and recently the Railway Authority issued notices to them to vacate the land. It will be very difficult for them to vacate the place at once, therefore, I request you to kindly give some provision for their rehabilitation, as most of them are retired railway employees and in their old age. Stop eviction immediately. Families will suffer and children will be homeless.

There is a proposal for laying a new railway line between Lonand-Phaltan which will be going through Baramati. Baramati already has good connection with Daund as is now broad-guage and now the new project Lonand-Phaltan-Baramati should be reconsidered as Baramati has farmers who are marginal farmers and will agitate if land acquisition is done. As they have no source of income. This project should be shelved as through the fully irrigated and fertile land. The people of the area are opposing this project and requested instead of this a new line between Lonand-Phaltan-Pandharpur route should be considered, as lakhs of tourist visits Pandharpur from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. It is a major pilgrim destination and will help boost tourism. Madam, satellite townships can be connected with fast track trains which can solve congestion and housing problems for the middle class and poor families. E.g. if you connect Pune with Saswad distance is about 40 km they can live in Saswad and work where living cost in Saswad is half of Pune cost. Same is applicable in Daund-Pune-Lonawala-Talegaon-Hadapsar belt too.

Railway Recruitment Board:

Indian Railway System is the biggest employer of people in the country, crystal clear procedures must be developed which outline how and why staff are recruited how individuals are promoted to the board. Transparency is a key to global good governance and with 14 lakh employeed, I ask the Hon’ble Minister to enhance checks and balances and make the systems of recruitment rigorously transparent so that the Railway Ministry can be used as a best practice example of transparent government.

All examinations of the Railway Recruitment Board should be conducted country-wide on the same day. All applicants should have to be enrolled their names in their local employment exchange. This will help to conduct the exams fairly.

All commitments should be time bound, so that they are completed in the budget allocated.

Finally, I pledge my support and congratulate the Hon’ble Minister on her clear commitment to development oriented railway growth and expansion. In line with this, I request that Hon’ble Union Minister Ms Banarjee to consider committing funds, resources and support to areas of Maharashtra that need development urgently.

Once again thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.