The Railway Budget ignored Kerala as never before, BJP leader and former Union Minister of State for Railways O. Rajagopal has said.
“This is a humiliation for Kerala,” he said. Kerala’s development needs had been ignored despite the presence of eight ministers from Kerala in the Union government.
The BJP leader said that though it was being claimed that passenger tariffs had not been increased, Rs.800 crore had been netted two months ago through tariff revision. Moreover, a regulatory commission with powers for periodic revision of tariffs was proposed to be set up. Ticket rates would go up with increase in diesel prices and other costs.
Mr. Rajagopal further noted that the increase in freight rates would hit the people harder than the passenger tariffs. Though impact would not be directly felt, it would cause all-round increase in prices.
He noted that the coach factory in Palakkad, proposed 50 years ago, was yet to materialise. Meanwhile, three other coach factories had been completed in places such Kapurthala and Rae Bareli. Political interests weighed over interests of passengers in such matters. Now, the Minister had proposed a new coach factory at Sonepet while there was only mention of plans to hold discussions with Kerala on the Palakkad coach factory.
Kerala had got no new lines. There was also no proposal for gauge conversion. Though there was a proposal for line between Palakkad and Muthalamada, this was proposed to be completed last year. However, not even preliminary works had been taken up last year. Earlier Budget proposals for the upgrade of Thiruvananthapuram railway station to international standards and opening of railway medical college were also remaining on paper, he said.
Keywords: O. Rajagopal, Railway budget 2013-14, Pawan Kuman Bansal, rail budget, railway budget, passenger traffic, Palakkad coach factory
I don't think common people like you and me can do anything with whatever is happening...This is pure politics and polical power ultimately wins. The reponsible people knows that there will be hue and cry only for a few days and than everyone will keep quite. finally....another year will pass..
Why did not O. Rajagopal not open the factory when he was minister.
If Railway budget is humiliation for Kerala , than what we can say it
is for a state like Himachal Pradesh ..... where what ever rail
infrastructure is there was made by British before Indian Independence
.... correct me if I am wrong but has Indian railways invested in
infrastructure in Himachal ..... there is no investment as far as I
know ..... even though whatever narrow gauge is there , that was all
made by British and now that too is in dilapidated state ..... and
even HP government is not doing anything except playing internal
politics ....
Please write an article in this regards to railway ministry and what
all they have done over past 65 years in Himachal Pradesh ......
We understand that Palakkad is already manufacturing shells of coaches
and sending it to Bangalore for finishing.Perhaps the MP's should switch
places with the common people.The MP's should travel in overcrowded
trains and and smell each other for hours together and the the common
folk should travel in luxurious comfort like the MP.Kerala being asmall
state should look forward to high speed rail travel and I am sure the
gulf people will oblige and support financially.
It's absolutely true. Same for Tamil Nadu too. If they are not going to
bother investing, they should atleast break the monopoly in the railway
and allow private players to invest like they do in the rest of the
world. It's a farce.
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