Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday wanted Southern Railway General Manager Deepak Krishan to take necessary steps with the Central government in getting additional funds for various on-going railway projects in the State.
Mr. Krishan, who took charge as the new General Manager of Southern Railway, met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat here on Thursday. During the meeting, the Chief Minister is reported to have stressed the need for early completion of on-going gauge conversion projects in the State and for getting approval and necessary funds for new lines.
The General Manager assured the Chief Minister that all efforts would be taken to ensure timely and speedy completion of the projects in Tamil Nadu.
Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi was also present on the occasion.
Later talking to newsmen, Mr. Krishan said the Railway Ministry allotted Rs. 1,000 crore for the current year to the zone, as against Rs. 1,100 crore in the previous year. The Chief Minister had written to the Ministry to sanction more funds for the State. The administration on its part also wrote to the Ministry seeking additional funds for on-going projects in the State. The General Manager said the Chief Minister also consented to flag off the following train services: Introduction of Tirunelveli – Bilaspur Weekly Express, extension of Jammu Tawi – Madurai Weekly Express to Tirunelveli and increase in frequency of the Chennai Central – Mangalore Central Express from tri-weekly to six days a week.
Mr. Krishan took over as the new General Manager on Thursday belonged to the 1974 batch of Indian Railways Service of Engineers (IRSE). He worked in various important posts in the Indian Railways, including General Manager, Eastern Railway, Additional Member (Civil Engineering), Railway Board, Principal Chief Engineer, Northern Railway, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Eastern Railway and Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala Cantonment, Northern Railway.
