Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan, and KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran, among others, have come down heavily on the Railway Budget, terming it a big disappointment.
Mr. Chandy said but for line doubling, none of the State’s demands had found favourable response from Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. Allocations for electrification and signalling were inadequate and the allocation for the Sabari line was disappointing. The Railway Minister had earmarked only Rs.10 lakh for the Kanjikode railway coach factory.
Despite the State government offering to pick up part of the bill, the Nilambur-Nanjengode line did not receive attention. The same was the case with the proposal for suburban train services. The decision to hike freight rates would push up prices and the failure to announce new trains and lines would stall growth of Railways, the Chief Minister said.
Only Rs.5 crore
Mr. Achuthanandan said there was nothing substantial in the budget for Kerala, which reflected total neglect of the State. The Railway Minister appeared to have taken a hostile attitude towards the State. Against the Rs.23 crore earmarked for the Sabari line last year, only Rs.5 crore had been set aside now. The allocation for line doubling on many stretches in the south was less than that of last year.
The hike in freight rates would result in rise in the prices of kerosene, cement, iron, steel, cooking gas, salt and many other articles, he said.
KPCC stance
Mr. Sudheeran said the budget had dashed the State’s hopes. The amounts allocated for line doubling in Kerala were inadequate. Although an outlay of Rs.514 crore had been announced for the Kanjikode coach factory, only Rs.10 lakh has been allocated in the budget. There was no meaning in the claims about absence of fare hike in the budget as the Modi government had hiked the fares in two instalments immediately on assuming office, he said.
Allocations for electrification inadequate: Chandy
VS alleges hostile attitude towards State
Chandy finds allocations inadequate, while
VS alleges hostile attitude
towards State.
