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Autos, cabs cleared for new GM’s visit at LTT
For three hours, the overcrowded Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Thane station were free of illegal autorickshaws and taxis.
For three hours, the overcrowded Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Thane station were free of illegal autorickshaws and taxis.
The reason — the newly-appointed general manager for Central Railway (CR), Kul Bhushan, decided to visit LTT and also inspect work on the Thane-Vikhroli line.
“We are doing our best to reduce the problem of illegal rickshaws and taxis outside LTT,” said a senior CR official, on condition of anonymity.
“We have already sent a proposal to the regional transport authorities for pre-paid taxi services,” he added.
A few months ago, commuter organisations had alleged that the authorities were hand-in-glove with the illegal auto, taxi drivers and touts selling railway tickets.
“The situation has improved only in the past two months,” said Madhu Kotian, general secretary of Railway Passenger Association.
The Central Railway authorities recently installed CCTV cameras at LTT to monitor the day-to-day problems outside the station.
The divisional railway manager who sits at CST monitors the activities. According to source, the railway police recently caught three touts selling railway tickets at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.
However, the problems seem to have escalated as work on the new building at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus has slowed down due to a cash-crunch.
The project requires a cash flow of around Rs 3 crore.
“The general manager has asked for a feasibility study of a foot overbridge from the new LTT building which will connect to the to the under-construction Santacruz-Chembur Link Road,” the official said.
Bhushan also visited the Thane-Vikhroli 5th — 6th lines being constructed for outstation trains.
It is expected to open in October, while the remaining part of Vikhroli-Kurla will be completed by December.
Work on this 18-km stretch is going on for the past 15 years.
“The general manager inspected the additional lines and examined progress on the LTT building,” said S Mudgerikar, Central Railway chief PRO.
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