Tuticorin District Passengers’ Association has hailed Railway Budget, which was presented by Union Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu on Thursday.
The long-awaited track doubling and funds allocation for such projects had gained significance, said M. Piramanayagam, district secretary of the association. It should be a welcome relief for the passengers from the city as trains could proceed without any hindrance of crossing. When track doubling work was completed as announced in Madurai–Tuticorin, Vanchi Maniyachi–Nagercoil and Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram sections, passengers would not have any concern over delay in departures or arrivals, he told The Hindu here on Friday.
The association also welcomed the short rail route from Madurai to Tuticorin through Aruppukottai and Vilathikulam announced in the Budget. It would reduce journey time. The Ministry had made an allocation of Rs. 1 crore and earmarked an extra budgetary resource (institutional fund) of Rs. 100 crore for the project.
However, he said the 120-day advance booking of tickets was needless.
The association had been keeping its fingers crossed for weekly express trains to connect New Delhi, Mumbai, Howrah and Mangalore from Tuticorin.
The association had also sought mainline electric multiple unit (MEMU) trains to Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram from Tuticorin, Mr. Piramanayagam said.
All India Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Tuticorin) president P.S.S.K. Raja Sankaralingam also welcomed the Budget, which spared passenger fares. However, he expressed disappointment over the hike in freight rates. Though there was no announcement on new trains, it was good that the speed of trains would be increased.
