Lalu agrees to CM's MUTP II proposal

Mumbai, Jul 26 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has principally agreed to the proposal put forwarded by Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, to utilise Rs 800 crore, that amounts to one third of the funds alloted for Mumbai Urban Transport Phase II project, in various railway projects of the state.

The Chief Minister yesterday met Mr Prasad and apprised him about the major pending proposals of the state. During the meeting, the proposal forwarded by the State Government for the Mumbai Urban Transport Phase II project was discussed in detail.

As per the earlier agreement with the Railways, two third of the funds -- Rs 2,500 crore, available for commercial development of railway property in Bandra, will be utilised for this project, while the remaining one third -- Rs 800 crore, may be used by the Railways.

The Chief Minister apprised the Railway Minister that the state has already increased the FSI from two to four and that we are not charging any premium for the same. He requested that the total money generated from this additional FSI may be utilised in Mumbai as the railway component in the MUTP, Phase-II is itself worth Rs 4,150 crore.

The Chief Minister also briefed the Railway Minister about the hurdles faced by the state, while undertaking the work of the Nagar-Bhir-Parli railway-line project. Mr Prasad has agreed to look into the project.

Mr Deshmukh also invited the Railway Minister to inaugurate the newly-widened Latur-Osmanabad-Kurduwadi railway line, to be held in August. After inauguration of this new line, the travelling time between Mumbai and Latur will be reduced considerably.

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