The wait for partial air-conditioned (AC) local trains on the Mumbai suburban network could get longer as the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has not yet approved of the concept.
The plan for partial AC locals was announced by the Union Minister for Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal last year. The trains will have six AC and six regular coaches. Mr. Goyal, while interacting with reporters on Saturday, said work on the partial AC local was under way, but has not yet been approved by the RDSO. The approval is required since it is a technologically new concept.
Hyderabad-based firm Medha has been awarded the contract, and the rake is expected to arrive in the next few months.