MUMBAI, Dec. 4 -- Two long-pending projects are finally gathering momentum, paving the way for more long-distance trains to serve Mumbai - the expansion of Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and a new railway terminus at Parel. Sources in the Central Railway (CR) said the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) of the Union railway ministry has approved both projects, after which they would need to be cleared by the Railway Board. After this, tenders will be floated. Senior CR officials said the PEC signed off on both projects a few days ago, and blueprints are ready. "We expect all permissions to come through and work to begin within this financial year," said a senior CR official. "At LTT, there is ample space between the existing terminus and Vidyavihar station, which will allow us to construct at least three to four platforms," the official added. At present, the railway operates 26 pairs of long-distance trains, which goes up to 37 pairs of trains during vacation season. Adding new platforms to the existing seven would allow the railway to add six to ten pairs of trains, easing pressure due to growing demand. It would also help increase the frequency of services, the official said. The site where platforms are proposed to be added at LTT currently houses railway quarters, rail assets and old rail lines, where trains are parked. After adding new lines, the railway could provide access to the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR). LTT is one of Mumbai's busiest railway terminuses, with a daily average footfall of 70,000 passengers. "The railway ministry would like to operate 50 more long-distance trains from Mumbai," said a railway official....