The nod for Phase II of the Multi-Modal Transit System (MMTS) comes as an affirmation of the planners on the importance given to strengthening suburban transport in and around a burgeoning metropolis, said South Central Railway (SCR) general manager G.N. Asthana.
In the Railway Budget presented on Wednesday, Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi announced the sanction of the Phase II of the much-talked-about project at an estimated cost of Rs. 632 crore, of which the State Government has agreed to bear two-thirds of the investment.
Apart from the new lines provided in the project, it also looks at optimum utilisation of lines that do not have much traffic, apart from upgradation and strengthening of the entire network, Mr. Asthana said, adding that it included adding new stations and doubling/electrification some stretches.
For example, between Falaknuma and Umdanagar stations, the line would be doubled, while it would extend in the form of a new line upto the new international airport at Shamshabad. This component was to ensure airport connectivity, he said.
The SCR has also proposed the formation of a new, autonomous authority that would exclusively handle the administration and everyday running of the suburban transport network, also equipped with the power to take its own decisions with the future requirements in mind. Such an authority would be carved out once the State and Central Governments gave the nod, Mr. Asthana added.
