Ensure allocation of adequate funds for Rly projects in TN : Stalin urges Ashwini Vaishnaw

Chennai, Aug 19 (Representative) Expressing disappointment over significant reduction in allocation of funds for various Railway projects in the budget, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Monday urged Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to ensure allocation of adequate funds earmarked for new lines, doubling and customer amenities projects in TN. In a Demi-Official letter to Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, he pointed out the significant reduction in allocation of funds for Southern Railways in the Regular Railway Budget for the financial year 2024-2025 and the resultant impact on the implementation of projects in Tamil Nadu. Listing out the projects, he reiterated that the vital projects should not be delayed further due to shortage of funds. “We are disappointed that the allocation of funds for the Southern Railways under certain Heads of Accounts in the Regular Budget for Indian Railways for the financial year 2024-2025, are much lesser when compared to the allocations in the Interim Budget of the same year”, he said. He said under Heads of Accounts Rs 976.1 crore was allocated in the Interim Budget for 11 new lines and it has been reduced to Rs 303.3 crore in the regular budget. For doublig of 15 lines, Rs 2,214.14 crore was allocated in the Interim budget which was reduced to Rs 1,928.8 crore in the Regular budget, he pointed out.

The above drastic reduction in allocation of funds by Rs.674.8 crores for new line projects will severely affect the progress of many important ongoing projects in Tamil Nadu, Mr Stalin said. Mr Stalin listed out the seven vital new line projects that included Tindivanam-Gingee-Tiruvannamalai, Tindivanam – Nagari, Attipattu -Puttur, Erode-Palani, Chennai- Cuddalore -Mahabalipuram, Madurai-Tuticorin via Aruppukkotai and Sriperumbudur – Guduvanchery with spur to Irunkattukottai–Avadi – Sriperumbudur. He said similarly, reduction in allocation of funds for doubling projects by Rs.285.64 crores will definitely slow down the much needed doubling projects in our State. He listed 12 such doubling projects. They were Villupuram-Dindigul, Thiruvallur-Arakkonam 4th Lane, Omalur-Mettur Dam doubling with electrification, Trivandrum -Kanniyakumari, Madurai-Maniyachi-Tuticorin, Maniyachi-Nagercoil, Salem-Magnasite junction – Omalur, Katpadi-Villupuram, Salem-Karur-Dindigul, Erode-Karur, Chennai Beach- Chennai Egmore and 3rd and 4th line connectivity to Road 1 and 2 of Arakkonam Yard. In addition, Mr Stalin also highlighted the important issues pending with Southern Railways for Chennai and its surrounding areas. “Specifically, the railway works related to Kilambakkam bus terminus, EMU services and MRTS lines need to be expedited without any further delay”, he said.

Listing out these works, he said KCBT related works were expediting Kilambakkam Rail Halt work executed by Railways on “deposit terms”, expediting the work of cross drains across railway track at Kilambakkam before North East monsoon, Traffic circulation works at Potheri and Kattankulathur Railway stations, Provision of three lifts at Potheri Railway station on CMDA account, Running Special MEMU trains (12 coaches each) from Chennai Beach station to Tiruvannamalai on all Fridays and Saturdays. The Chennai area works are Restoration of MRTS line/services to Beach station, handing over process of MRTS line to the Tamil Nadu Government after duly obtaining approval from Railway Board, Speedy completion of DPR/FLS study for 4th Line between Tambaram and Chengalpattu, early introduction of Air-conditioned EMU services in Beach-Tambaram-Chengalpattu sector, expediting Railway Board approval for Integrated Ticketing and Increasing Suburban services in Chennai Division with the peak hour headway of 5-7 minutes. “In view of the above, I urge you to ensure the allocation of adequate funds earmarked for new lines, doubling and customer amenities projects in Tamil Nadu. I reiterate that these vital projects should not be delayed further due to shortage of funds”, Mr Stalin said and sought the Railway Minister’s personal intervention in this regard.