Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu not neglected in funds allotment: Nitish

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI March 31. The Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, today denied that Tamil Nadu was neglected in allotment of funds for on-going projects. In fact, the allotment for the State was more than what was provided last year, he told newsmen here

Unlike as in previous years, the allotment was made transparently and fairly. The available resources were sanctioned based on the area of the State, population and status of the projects. Weightage was given to these three criteria in the ratio of 15:15:70.

The Ministry needed about 40,000 crores for completing all its on-going projects. Thanks to the Centre's budgetary support of about Rs 2,800 crores, the Ministry was able to sanction more funds for various projects. It planned to expand the broad gauge network by 5000 km by the end of the Tenth Five-Year Plan period and in the next financial year about 1000 km would be added.

Some of the States had come forward to share the cost of railway projects in their areas. Uttranchal agreed to chip in with two-thirds of the cost of its rail projects, while Karnataka would part-share the cost for three rail lines.

To commemorate the 150th year of the Railways, it was decided to introduce 16 Jan Shatabdi Expresses (inter-city services) in the coming financial year and these would become operational before October.

True to their name, the trains would be accessible to a much wider section of the travelling public. The first service from Mumbai to Madagaon would be flagged off by the Prime Minister on April 16. The Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, would manufacture coaches for all 16 expresses.

Coaches inspection

Earlier, the Minister inspected the newly-built Jan Shatabdi coaches and collision-resistant coaches, designed and manufactured by the ICF, and flagged of indigenously-manufactured , 12-car AC/DC coaches, which can be operated both on AC and DC traction.

Mr. Nitish Kumar also declared open a rail museum on the ICF premises. He assured employees that the ICF production capacity would be fully utilised by the Ministry.

Explaining the features of the dual voltage coaches, the ICF General Manager, M.V. Ramani, said already one nine-car rake and a three-car unit had been despatched to the Western Railway. The new coaches would be into passenger service soon.

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