The Hindu : Rail Projects: No raw deal in allocations, says Moorthy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Rail Projects: No raw deal in allocations, says Moorthy

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI May 25. The Minister of State for Railways, A.K. Moorthy, and the State Transport Minister, R. Viswanathan, today blamed the State Government and the Centre respectively for the delay in executing ongoing rail projects in Tamil Nadu.

At the flagging off ceremony of the Chennai Central-Goa summer special train here, Mr. Viswanathan said the State was being given a ``step-motherly'' treatment in funds allocation. Against the total cost of Rs. 3,056 crores for the ongoing projects, the Railway Ministry, so far, allotted only Rs. 634.77 crores. In the current year too, the allocation was relatively meagre, at Rs. 179.28 crores. At this rate, it would take many more years to complete the projects, which would result in a heavy cost overrun.

Ahead of the budget presentation, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, had written to the Railway Ministry seeking more funds. Yet, adequate funds were not allotted.

The State Government was ready to cooperate with the Railway Ministry for early execution and completion of the projects. He wanted Mr. Moorthy to take up the issue with the Ministry.

But Mr. Moorthy denied that Tamil Nadu was given a raw deal. The Ministry had been allotting sufficient funds for the projects every year.

In the current year, it allotted Rs. 96 crores for the long-pending Chennai Central-Egmore elevated broad gauge link, which could become a reality in two years if the State allotted land. Similarly the Velachery-Mamallapuram line could be laid within a short time if the Government came forward to part finance the project, in which the Chief Minister herself evinced keen interest.

Regarding the second phase of the MRTS project between Tirumailai and Velachery, he said it would be opened for traffic by June.

Similarly other projects would be completed on a priority basis at the earliest. Funds would not be a constraint, he said.

(Though the Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, laid the foundation for the Central-Egmore link in March, no funds were allotted in the current budget proposals. The State Government did not agree to the Ministry's proposal for part-financing project. However, it agreed to give land free.)

The Congress MLA, S.G. Vinayagamurthi, demanded more funds for the ongoing projects.

The Southern Railway General Manager, V. Anand, said the department earned Rs. 1,473 crores as passenger revenue in the last financial year. Twelve new trains were introduced. Five more would be introduced in the current year.

Later talking to newsmen, Mr. Moorthy said the frequency of the Goa special would be increased if there was good patronage. Railway officials would meet on Tuesday to work out the cost of the Velachery-Mamallapuram project. He said the project could be completed in two years with the cooperation of the State Government.

Mr. Anand said an anti-collision device (ACD) would be put into operation on the Chennai Ernakulam section from Tuesday. It would be fitted on a locomotive and later in all trains, level crossings, and station master rooms. Against the total allocation of Rs. 1,200 crores for installing ACDs in the Railways, Rs. 55 crores had been allocated for the Southern Railway.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Rail Projects: No raw deal in allocations, says Moorthy

Kiruttinan murder case: Police claim significant breakthrough

Southern Railway tightens safety measures

Changes in pension benefits of transport staff stayed

TNAU to research on `Golden Rice' technology transfer

Suresh Rajan wins

Swamy calls for CBI probe into `corruption'

Health dept. incurred Rs. 8-cr. wasteful expenditure: CAG

Fishermen want CRZ notification strengthened