Indian batting legend, Sachin Tendulkar, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, has allocated INR 2 crore from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund for the redevelopment of rail foot overbridges in Mumbai in the backdrop of the Elphinstone Road station stampede.

On September 29, 23 people have died in the rush-hour stampede on a narrow foot overbridge linking Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban stations during heavy rain.
In a letter to Indian Railway Minister, Tendulkar requested the Mumbai suburban district collector to authorize INR 2 crores for constructions.

He said INR 1 crore each will be allocated to Western Railway and Central Railway from his MPLADS fund “towards immediate revamp and construction of FOBs in as many high density, single bridge stations on the Western, Central (Main) and Central (Harbour) lines” that the official may deem urgent.

Sachin wrote, “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 further added, “For the families RPT families 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 also wrote a letter to the Mumbai suburban district collector, in which he said he has asked the Railway Ministry, Railway Board and zonal heads “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.”

Every year, MPs receive INR 5 crore under the MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) Scheme, primarily to take up development projects in their respective constituencies.