New Delhi, Oct 23 : The Railways Ministry in collaboration with Maharashtra Government has taken steps to revamp the Mumbai Suburban Railway System to bring down overcrowding in peak hour in peak direction.

With the implementation of the rail component of Multi-Modal Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) various steps are being taken.

The suburban train operation is being segregated from the main line passenger and freight services.

Under the MUTP phase-I sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 31.25 billion (Rs. 3125.20 crore), 550 new trains will bee added to the system.

While on fast line, all trains will be of 12-cars, 20 per cent of trains will be of 12-cars on slow line.

Vehicle kilometers per day will increase by 33 per cent.

Overcrowding during peak hour peak direction will come down from existing over 5,000 commuters to 3,600 commuters per nine-car rake, said a Railway Ministry release.

Provision of additional booking counters, Coupon Validating Machines and computerized Unreserved Ticketing System are being made to ease congestion at booking counters.

Instructions have also been issued to extend Jansadharan Ticket Booking Sevak (JTBS) scheme to Western Railway, the release said.

Provision of contact less Smart Card based ticketing system and Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) is also on hand in Mumbai area. (ANI)