(Image source from: Hindustantimes.com)

Sachin Tendulkar Sanctions Rs 2cr For Mumbai FOB Work:- Around Rs 2 crore have been sanctioned by cricket icon and Rajya Sabha member Sachin Tendulkar for revamp of rail foot overbridges (FOBs) in Mumbai in the backdrop of the Elphinstone Road station stampede. Sachin has given the huge amount from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund.

To be recalled, about 23 people were killed in the rush-hour stampede on a narrow FOBs linking Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban stations, on September 29, during heavy rain.

In a letter to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Sachin said he is requesting the Mumbai suburban district collector to authorize Rs 2 crore for constructions. He said that “towards immediate revamp and construction of FOBs in as many high density, single bridge stations on the Western, Central (Main) and Central (Harbour) lines, Rs 1 crore each be allotted to Western Railway and Central Railway from his MPLADS fund, ” that the official may deem urgent.

“The recent incident at the Elphinstone Road station on Western Railway where innocent lives were lost in a stampede was devastating and I am moved to offer immediate support for the improvement of services for our Mumbaikars,” he wrote.

“For the millions of those affected, it is not a happy Diwali in any sense, we must do all we can as responsible citizens to ensure this never happens again on any network in India,” Tendulkar said in the letter dated October 16.

The the Railway Ministry, Railway Board and zonal heads were asked by Tendulkar, in the letter also sent to the Mumbai suburban district collector, “to study the possibility of creating two separate independent zones for the suburban services, a request that has been made by several experts, passenger and civil society groups.”

“I think there is a merit in this request as it will bring dedicated manpower, funds and focus on the suburban network which ferries millions every single day,” he wrote.

Under the MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) Scheme, the MPs are allotted Rs 5 crore every year. The scheme is primarily to take up development projects in their respective constituencies. Over the time,  the fund has been increased, starting from Rs 5 lakh in 1993-94 to Rs 5 crore at present.

SUPRAJA