Appointment of experts approved for high speed train

Mumbai, June 21 (UNI) The Maharashtra cabinet today decided to appoint international experts for examining feasibility of a high speed train, connecting the state's capital Mumbai with its second capital Nagpur.

The distance between the two capitals of the state is 853 km and currently a fast train requires over 13 hours to cover the distance.

The distance could be covered in just three to three-and-a-half hour by a high speed train.

Finance minister Jayant Patil informed the cabinet the utility of a high speed train, which will help for the development of backward areas.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said CIDCO and Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority will help in implementation of the project.

The high speed train, which run at a speed of 500 km per hour, are popular in Europe.

The cabinet approved returning amount of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the gas, which is being sold to Ratnagiri gas and power project (RGPG). An official release said the annual amount of VAT on gas supplied by Gas authority of India ltd to RGPG wuld be Rs 40.17 crore. The VAT will depend on the actual price of the gas.

The gas supply for RGPG is more important for power generation against the backdrop of severe power crunch to the tune of 5000 MW.

The cabinet also decided to to give financial assistance to the mango cultivators of Konkan at the rate of Rs 10,000 per hectare up to two hectares. The mango cultivators suffered losses this year due to rains and biting cold.

Formation of state-level children rights (protection) commission was also approved today. The commission will have six non official members, appointed by women and children welfare minister, including two women. There will be an expenditure of Rs 95.71 lakh for the formation of commission, which was also approved. The commission will look into the rights of children and their protection.

The cabinet approved an amount of Rs 733.11 crore for the third centenary of Guruta Gaddi at Nanded, which is going to take place next year. Already an amount of Rs 687.05 crore was sanctioned under Jawaharlal Nehru urban renewal mission and in all a sum of Rs 1420.15 has been earmarked for this function.

UNI