Railway budget 2016-17 : ‘Railway budget silent on unfinished projects’

Railway budget 2016-17 : ‘Railway budget silent on unfinished projects’

TRICHY: Rail users welcomed projects on improving safety and management announced in the railway budget, but many felt that it was silent on several important projects that were announced for the central districts which till date have not seen the light of day.

These include the Ponmalai – Thanjavur doubling project, supposed to have been completed before the Mahamaham festival early next year, sanction of a doubling project between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam as a prelude to the doubling of the entire stretch till Villupuram and allocation of full fund for its completion before Mahamaham festival to enable speedy movement of trains. Rail users are also awaiting the approval of new railway lines on Kumbakonam – Vriddhachalam, Thanjavur – Ariyalur and Thanjavur -Pattukottai routes, which have already been surveyed.

Another project to introduce new trains between Thanjavur and Mumbai CST via main line to connect various pilgrim centres such as Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Chidambaram, Tirupathi and Mantralayam is also still in the pipeline.

A Giri, vice-president of Thanjavur District Rail Users Association, said, “Unlike previous budgets, the railway minister has not mentioned the projects to be taken up and skipped the announcement of new train services. It is happy to note that Rs 6,581 crore has been earmarked for safety. However, the budget is silent about the allocation and plans for the famous Mahamaham festival.”

Rail users have also been asking the government to turn the well-patronised Rameswaram – Varanasi Express and the Rameswaram – Tirupathi Express into daily trains. Operation of a fully unreserved express train between Thanjavur and Cuddalore using the empty rake of Uzhavan Express, extension of Chennai-Egmore – Trichy Cholan Express up to Karaikudi with the short termination of Pallavan Express up to Trichy and the inauguration of a coach terminal facility at Kumbakonam for easy operation of more long-distance trains are some of the other long-pending demands of the rail users here.

They have also been asking for allocation of more funds to improve amenities, including the establishment of a ‘Rail Yatri Nivas’ at Kumbakonam in view of the Mahamaham festival.

T Saravanan, secretary of Rail Passengers Association, Papanasam, welcomed the decision to increase train speed from 120kmph to 200kmph and said that connecting metros through high-speed trains would be fruitful.

“In the last 30 years, 676 projects were sanctioned but only 317 could be implemented. It requires Rs 1,82,000 crore to implement these projects. The railway minister must be appreciated for not announcing new extensions and new lines,” said S Pushpavanam, secretary, Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu. He pointed out that the Madurai- Bodinayakanur metre gauge lines were removed in 2007 for gauge conversion, but the work is yet to start.

M Sekaran, president of Federation of Consumer and Service Organizations, said the decision to add more general coaches was welcome and lauded the emphasis on cleanliness.

“Though the fares have not been hiked, non-introduction of new trains is a good decision as it would benefit the employees, who burn the midnight oil to operate the trains under stress and strain. Already, the railways is haunted by two lakh vacancies. Introducing new trains instead of filling up these vacancies will not serve any real purpose,” said H Ghouse Baig of Consumer Protection Council, Golden Rock.

Source : TOI