Even after constructing a 550-m water pipeline with the capacity to carry 25 lakh litres of water, the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) is yet to receive water. The BMC has now asked the railways to clear their past water dues to get a freshwater connection for the terminus.
According to Mumbai Mirror, the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) which ferries thousands of commuters is currently being supplied by 80 tankers every night. The Central Railway (CR) is compelled to source close to18 lakh litres of water daily at LTT from water tanker to fill trains. In a bid to streamline operations, around six months ago, the CR held a meeting with the BMC and asked for a water pipeline to connect to the terminus, and the BMC okayed the proposal. After getting the BMC’s nod, the railways began constructing a 550-m water pipeline with the capacity to carry 25 lakh litres of water.
But the work got completed 45 days ago at a cost of about Rs 36 lakh, and another Rs 10 lakhs was given to BMC as a deposit. A senior CR official told Mumbai Mirror, “The water pipeline was tested about 45 days ago, and was finally ready to use. The BMC told us that in the first phase, they release 21 lakh litres of water. But then the water connection was never provided.” But now Railway officials are saying that the civic body has asked them to clear their past water dues to get a freshwater connection for the terminus.
A senior BMC hydraulic engineer told Mumbai Mirror, “It is the procedure that past dues have to be cleared before giving a fresh connection. The dues are to be cleared at the ward level, after which things will be cleared further.”
