Have new-age trains reduced commuter rush, asks World Bank

The World Bank has asked the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to conduct a fresh survey on congestion in trains during peak hours.

The World Bank has also enquired if technical snags in the new-age trains still persist.

The bank has asked the MRVC to employ a third party to conduct the survey. The MRVC will have to submit the report before the Mumbai Urban Transport Project-II (A) begins.

The bank has also asked for a certificate showing that there is no problem with the new-age trains bought by the MRVC.

“It’s really difficult to go through the whole process of conducting a fresh survey. It’s physically tedious to go for headcount over and again,” said a senior MRVC official, requesting anonymity for protocol reasons. “We believe that our previous congestion survey in May is statistically close to the real picture.”

A survey conducted by the MRVC in May had reported that the density of commuters has come down by 14 per cent after new-age trains were introduced — from 4,700 commuters per train to 4,100.

“The previous congestion survey was a difficult process but we will again submit a report,” said MRVC Managing Director PC Sehgal.

“We will submit this survey within two months and submit the certificate on the condition of new trains within a fortnight,” said an MRVC official.

“The new rakes for Mumbai is a welcome move if it reduces congestion,” said Huber Josserand, World Bank team leader. Josserand, who was on a 10-day visit to the city, met government and railway officials to discuss MUTP-II (A) funding.