Opposition parties in TN slam Rail budget

February 27, 2015 09:38 am | Updated 09:38 am IST - CHENNAI:

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, including the DMK, on Thursday expressed displeasure with the Railway Budget and slammed it for lacking in substance.

DMK president M. Karunanidhi said not only were new projects not announced, several proposals have been given up mid-way, and in no way could this budget be welcomed.

“It is notable that for the first time in the history of Indian Railway budgets, no new or additional trains have been announced,” he pointed out and added there was an expectation that passenger and freight fare would be reduced.

PMK leader S. Ramadoss expressed disappointment over non-allocation of adequate funds for railway projects in Tamil Nadu and failure to reduce the passenger and freight charges even though diesel prices had come down by Rs 12 -13 per litre. “Passenger and freight charges were increased up to 14 per cent citing hike in the price of diesel. Now the Railway Ministry is not bothered to reduce the charges despite fall in the price of diesel,” Dr. Ramadoss said.

He said even though Tamil Nadu needed over Rs 9,000 crore for implementation of existing projects, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had failed to allocate adequate funds. “It shows the indifference of the Centre towards the requirement of Tamil Nadu. The Railway Minister should release more funds at least in his reply,” Dr. Ramadoss said.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko launched a scathing attack on the Centre and termed the Railway budget a “mirage.” He said permitting FDI to improve railway infrastructure pointed to the direction of privatisation.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, said the BJP-led Centre had ignored Tamil Nadu in the Railway budget as the AIADMK, even with 37 MPs in the Lok Sabha, did nothing to fight for the State’s rights.

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