Budget 2018: All railway stations, trains to have CCTVs, Wi-Fi, says Arun Jaitley
With an aim to reduce the tragic incidents at railways stations and inside trains, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley proposed that all railways stations and trains will have Wi-Fi and CCTVs progressively.
While addressing the last full budget of NDA government, Jaitley said that all railways stations with more than 25,000 footfall to have escalators, a move which may eliminate unmanned railway crossings.
The decision refers to the infamous Elphinstone station stampede in Mumbai which killed over 22 people and injured over 30 people.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai suburban have been allocated additional Rs 11,000 crore for doubling of the tracks on an additional 90 km stretch.
Jaitley also announced that redevelopment of 600 major railway stations has been taken up to avoid any unfortunate mishappening.
"Redevelopment of 600 major railway stations has been taken up; Mumbai transport system is being expanded; suburban network of 160 km planned for Bengaluru."
During his Budget speech, the finance minister informed that an institute will be coming up in Gujarat's Vadodara to train the manpower required for the high speed bullet train railway projects.
The foundation stone of the bullet train was laid last year in September 2017.